BRODY Mihocek is no stranger to change.
At just 19, after missing out on the draft, the young Tasmania made the leap to move to Melbourne to pursue his dream of playing AFL.
He played at Werribee in the VFL, then moved to Port Melbourne, before finally being signed by Collingwood, years of hard work culminating in a contract at an AFL club.
Eight seasons and a premiership medal later, the 32-year-old is ready to embrace his next change, making the move from Collingwood to Melbourne, the Dees signing the key forward during the 2025 Free Agency Period.
“I believe change has been a good thing for me throughout my career,” Mihocek told Melbourne Media.
“It's always nerve wracking, but there's good people everywhere, and I'll meet a lot of good people at Melbourne.
“Something excites me about [Steven] King coming in as a new coach and playing with a younger group, seeing what I can bring in a leadership role and as an older player.”
Coming in as an senior player will allow Mihocek to hone his leadership skills with the younger cohort of forward talent that sits on Melbourne’s list.
A number of the club’s forward line sit under the age of 25, with the new Demon eager to support this group of players both on and off the field.
"I just want to be a mature head down there, I think my role is to take pressure off the younger boys," Mihocek said.
“I know as a forward, it can be tough at times, and it does mess with your mind as a forward not being able to have an impact in the game.
"So hopefully, I can do my part and also help others get the ball themselves.”
Mihocek’s career so far has seen him achieve what many players dream of. He was Collingwood’s leading goal-kicker across five seasons and, as mentioned earlier, a key cog in the club's 2023 premiership side.
While he's already achieved so much, the forward is looking positively on his next chapter at the Dees, with the belief that his best footy is still ahead of him.
“I didn't want to go to a club and just play out the rest of my career, I want to make an impact straight away,” Mihocek said.
“I know myself and there's still a lot of good footy left in me. I figure out new things about my body every year and what it's capable of, so I'm excited to get in on day one and get fitter and stronger than I ever have been.
When thinking about the fact he’ll now be on other side of the Melbourne and Collingwood rivalry, Mihocek wasn’t too worried.
"I’ll still get to play in big games at the Dees," Mihocek said.
"King's birthday is going to be an interesting one, I'll be nervous, but I've still got a lot of good friends at the Pies.
"It's exciting to see what the Dees fans are going to be like, and I know I'll get looked after."
