Luke Hodge

Luke Hodge
Hodge playing for Hawthorn in April 2017
Personal information
Full name Luke Hodge
Nickname(s) The General
Date of birth (1984-06-15) 15 June 1984
Place of birth Colac, Victoria, Australia
Original team(s) Geelong Falcons (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 1, 2001 national draft
Debut Round 5, 2002, Hawthorn
vs. Richmond, at MCG
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 90 kg (198 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current club Brisbane Lions
Number 2
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2002–2017 Hawthorn 305 (193)
2018– Brisbane Lions 019 00(1)
Total 324 (194)
International team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2005, 2014–2015 Australia 4 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2018.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Luke Hodge (born 15 June 1984) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 2002 to 2017, captaining the club from 2011 to 2016. Hodge started his career playing on the half-back flank but as his career progressed he has been known to push up into the midfield. He is a four-time premiership player, three-time premiership captain and a two-time Norm Smith Medallist. Hodge is well-thought of as having been one of the best and most respected players, in particular as a captain, to have ever participated in the sport.[1][2]

Early life

Hodge was born in the Victorian town of Colac.

AFL career

Hawthorn (2002–2017)

Hodge plays half-back flanker and midfield. Recruited from the Geelong Falcons Under 18 team, Hodge made his debut in 2002.[3][4]

Hodge was recruited from the Geelong Falcons Under-18 Football Club, and in 2001 nominated for the 2001 AFL Draft. He was the number-one draft choice of Hawthorn Football Club (taken from Fremantle for Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin). In the early years of his career he was compared with Chris Judd who was chosen with the third selection in the same draft.

He was named in the 2005 All-Australian team and in International Rules team for Australia. Hodge was named sole vice-captain of the Hawthorn Football Club in October 2007.

He was named in the 2008 All-Australian team and in International Rules team for Australia. Hodge won the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player on the ground during the 2008 AFL Grand Final.[5]

Hodge in 2007

Hodge became the captain of the club after Sam Mitchell handed over the captaincy prior to the 2010 Peter Crimmins Medal count.[6]

Hodge played only eight home and away games in 2012 due to an Posterior cruciate ligament injury.[7] Returning after a brief illness that kept him out of the preliminary final, he led his side in the 2012 AFL Grand Final but didn't have a major influence on the result.

More post-season surgery followed and he missed the first game of the 2013 season, but he played the majority of the season finishing fifth in the club's Peter Crimmins Medal award. Hodge played in the 2013 AFL Grand Final against Fremantle Dockers and was listed as one of his teams best players on the day. Hawthorn's victory allowed him to claim his second Premiership and his first Premiership as a captain.

Hodge had another consistent year in 2014. He played his 250th career game in the Grand Final, with the Hawks defeating the Sydney Swans to win their 12th premiership. In the game, Hodge became only the third player (after Gary Ayres and Andrew McLeod) to win two Norm Smith Medals, and captained the side to his third premiership, his second as captain.

When the Hawks devoted the first choice in the 2001 NAB AFL National Draft to Luke Hodge they got not just a great player but a great leader, too.

Leigh Matthews, Hawthorn Great and four-time Premiership coach[8]

Hodge was suspended for two weeks in round 21, 2015 by the Match Review Panel (MRP) for an incident in which made contact with Chad Wingard in close proximity to the behind post. [9]

Hodge's history of strong performances in finals, in particular during Hawthorn's run of three consecutive premierships in 2013, 2014 and 2015 has led to members of the media, including commentator Bruce McAvaney, to dub him "Mister September", after the month in which AFL finals traditionally take place.[10]

Hodge announced in July 2017 that he would retire at the end of the season.[11] In Hodge's last game for Hawthorn, he had 14 disposals in a 9-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

Brisbane Lions (2018–present)

In October 2017 Hawthorn confirmed media speculation that Hodge would seek a move to Brisbane Lions in the forthcoming trade period.[12] He was officially traded Brisbane during the trade period.[13]

After an impressive 2018 season participating in 19 senior matches, averaging just below 20 disposals and an 80% disposal efficiency with no reported injuries apart from a minor calf injury, it was confirmed that Hodge would play on in 2019. He has received much praise from teammates, staff of the club, and media alike for his significant impact on the team, noting his outstanding leadership both on and off the field continuing on from his time at Hawthorn.[14][15][16]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2017[17]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2002 Hawthorn 1515951577623357240.60.310.55.115.53.81.6
2003 Hawthorn 151510111217319455390.70.78.14.912.93.72.6
2004 Hawthorn 151514111597623562560.90.710.65.115.74.13.7
2005 Hawthorn 1521915347234581112590.40.716.511.127.75.32.8
2006 Hawthorn 15226931319951289900.30.414.29.023.34.04.1
2007 Hawthorn 15242314319222541130961.00.613.39.322.55.44.0
2008 Hawthorn 1520208290171461114701.00.414.58.623.15.73.5
2009 Hawthorn 151910523419042471680.50.312.310.022.33.73.6
2010 Hawthorn 15221512335209544891250.70.515.29.524.74.05.7
2011 Hawthorn 15221918325209534106760.90.814.89.524.34.83.5
2012 Hawthorn 1510961217019144180.90.612.17.019.14.41.8
2013 Hawthorn 15231111349152501115810.50.515.26.621.85.03.5
2014 Hawthorn 1522129370181551130790.50.416.88.225.05.93.6
2015 Hawthorn 1521218366196562130931.00.417.49.326.86.24.4
2016 Hawthorn 15154322611734385480.30.215.17.822.95.73.2
2017 Hawthorn 151912276164440119470.10.114.58.623.26.32.5
2018 Brisbane Lions 21911248122370121190.10.113.16.419.56.42.0
Career 324194148455626617217162910880.60.514.18.322.44.93.5

Honours and achievements

Brownlow Medal votes
Season Votes
2002 1
2003 4
2004 4
2005 15
2006 4
2007 16
2008 2
2009 7
2010 16
2011 17
2012 2
2013 15
2014 12
2015 13
2016 3
2017 0
Total 131
Key:
Red / Italics = Ineligible

AFL

TAC Cup

Personal life

Hodge married long-time girlfriend since high school, Lauren Kirkman, in 2009 and has three sons, Cooper, Chase and Leo.[18]

He earned the nickname 'The General' (of which would later be the title of his 2017 autobiography[19]) for his leadership abilities both on and off the field.[20]

Media career

Luke Hodge appears regularly on a Melbourne radio station segment during the football season. In 2011, Hodge competed in the third season of the Channel Seven television series Australia’s Greatest Athlete.[21] He also made special guest appearances on Channel 7’s Football coverage as a special comments commentator since the 2016 season.

References

  1. ↑ "'He is simply one of the greatest players of all time'". The New Daily. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  2. ↑ Pierik, Jon (2017-01-20). "Luke Hodge to be remembered as one of the greatest AFL captains". The Age. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  3. ↑ "Player profile: 15 Luke Hodge". Hawthorn Football Club. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  4. ↑ John, Murray (Editor) (October 2008). Hawthorn A Perfect 10. Geoff Slattery. p. 10. ISBN 9780980516227.
  5. ↑ "Cool hand Luke Hodge leads from back". Herald Sun. Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  6. ↑ Phelan, Jason (2 October 2010). "Mitchell stands down as skipper for Hodge". AFL. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  7. ↑ Edmund, Sam (19 March 2013). "Hawks skipper Luke Hodge has vowed not to rush back from a knee injury in time for round one". Edmund.
  8. ↑ Matthews, Leigh (7 July 2010). "Hodge a natural leader". Australian Football League (AFL). Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  9. ↑ Twomey, Callum (25 August 2015). "Hodge cops two-game ban for Wingard hit". Australian Football League (AFL). Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (19 September 2015). "Player focus: 'Mr September' sets the tone as Hawks make a statement". Australian Football League (AFL). Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Colangelo, Anthony (10 July 2017). "Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge announces he will retire at the end of 2017 season". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  12. ↑ http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2017-10-05/hodge-confirms-plans-to-head-north
  13. ↑ "Hodge joins Hawk-led revival at Lions - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  14. ↑ "Player Review: Luke Hodge - lions.com.au". lions.com.au. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  15. ↑ "'How Hodgey changed a club' by Alex Witherden - PlayersVoice". PlayersVoice. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  16. ↑ "Tom Morris on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  17. ↑ "Luke Hodge". AFL Tables. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  18. ↑ McFarlane, Glenn (29 June 2013). "Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge opens up to Herald Sun reporter Glenn McFarlane". Herald Sun.
  19. ↑ "The General by Luke Hodge". Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  20. ↑ "Hodge's sliding doors moment". NewsComAu. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  21. ↑ Meyn, Travis (7 December 2010). "Who's who of sport hit the Coast".
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