Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a hard blow.

1816		Lord Campbell in Hardcastle Life (1881) I 334: He cannot deal the knock-me-down blows of old Brough, and if you watch your opportunity you may give him a podger .
1832		Egan Bk of Sports 28: His Grub Warehouse, we think, must have been very tender, from the numerous podgers Dick planted upon it.
1840		‘A Single Young Man Lodger’ in Lover’s Harmony No. 19 146: If I asked for a bob, / He’d give me such a podger.
1877		‘A Single Young Man Lodger’ in Laughing Songster 19: [as cit. 1840].

2. (Irish) a cudgel.

1986

(con. 1887) Cork Centenary Remembrancer 1887–1987 n.p.: Hidden podgers and shillelaghs, ash plants and paling posts were uncovered [...] to flay the peelers [BS].