Career
Mangels was only 10 when he signed with Carlton and progressed through the juniors and Under-19s before making his senior debut in 1974. In the opening nine rounds of the 1980 VFL season he averaged just under 20 disposals a game, a career high He was then put up by Carlton for trade, with the club hoping to secure Greg Wells from Melbourne as part of a swap with Mangels.
The deal through when Mangels informed the club that his preferred destination was Geelong, which is where he would end up.
He made few senior appearances at Geelong due to ankle and hamstring injuries, although he did participate in their 1981 and 1982 reserves premiership teams.