Luke Hodge
Hodge playing for the Brisbane Lions in 2018
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 (PP), 2001 national draft
Debut Round 5, 2002, Hawthorn vs. Richmond, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / defender
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
2002–2017 Hawthorn 305 (193)
2018–2019 Brisbane Lions 041 00(1)
Total 346 (194)
International team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2005–2015 Australia 4 (0)
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Luke Hodge (born 15 June 1984) is a former Australian rules football player who played with the Hawthorn Football Club and the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 2002 to 2017, captaining the club from 2011 to 2016. In 2018, Hodge moved to the Brisbane Lions, before retiring in 2019. 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 widely regarded as one of the most respected players, in particular as a captain, to have ever participated in the sport.[1][2] As of 2023, Hodge has played the most VFL/AFL games of any number-one draft pick (346 games played), is the only number-one draft pick to win a Norm Smith Medal, is one of just three number-one draft picks to have won a premiership, and has won the most premierships of any number-one draft pick (4).

Early life

Hodge was born in the Victorian town of Colac. Hodge supported Richmond during his childhood, with his favourite player being Matthew Richardson.[3]

AFL career

Hawthorn (2002–2017)

Hodge in 2007

Hodge played as a half-back flanker and midfielder during his playing career.[4] Recruited from the Geelong Falcons Under 18 team, Hodge made his debut in 2002.[5][6]

Hodge was recruited from the Geelong Falcons Under-18 Football Club, and in 2001 nominated for the 2001 AFL Draft.[5][6] He was the number-one draft choice of Hawthorn Football Club (which had been traded from Fremantle for Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin). Throughout his career he was often compared with Chris Judd, who was chosen with the third selection in the same draft.[7]

Hodge made his debut in 2002 alongside mature age recruit Sam Mitchell from the Box Hill Hawks, who got traded to Fremantle alongside Luke in return for Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin

He was named in the 2005 All-Australian team[8] and in the International Rules team for Australia.[9]

Hodge was named sole vice-captain of the Hawthorn Football Club in October 2007.[10]

He was named in the 2008 All-Australian team and in the 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.[11]

Hodge became the captain of the club after Sam Mitchell handed over the captaincy prior to the 2010 Peter Crimmins Medal count.[12]

Hodge played only eight home and away games in 2012 due to a Posterior cruciate ligament injury.[13] 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.[14]

Hodge playing for Hawthorn in April 2017

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 team's 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[15]

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.[16]

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.[17]

Hodge announced in July 2017 that he would retire at the end of the season.[18] In Hodge's last game for Hawthorn, he had 14 disposals in a 9-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

Brisbane Lions (2018–2019)

In October 2017 Hawthorn confirmed media speculation that Hodge would seek a move to Brisbane Lions in the forthcoming trade period.[19] He was officially traded Brisbane during the trade period.[20]

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.[21][22][23]

Statistics

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  #  
 Played in that season's 
premiership team
  †  
 Led the league for 
the season
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2002Hawthorn15 15951577623357240.60.310.55.115.53.81.61
2003Hawthorn15 1510111217319455390.70.78.14.912.93.72.64
2004Hawthorn15 1514111597623562560.90.710.65.115.74.13.74
2005Hawthorn15 21915347234581112590.40.716.5†11.127.75.32.815
2006Hawthorn15 226931319951289900.30.414.29.023.34.04.14
2007Hawthorn15 242314319222541130961.00.613.39.322.55.44.016
2008#Hawthorn15 20208290171461114701.00.414.58.623.15.73.52
2009Hawthorn15 1910523419042471680.50.312.310.022.33.73.67
2010Hawthorn15 221512335209544891250.70.515.29.524.74.05.716
2011Hawthorn15 221918325209534106760.90.814.89.524.34.83.517
2012Hawthorn15 10961217019144180.90.612.17.019.14.41.82
2013#Hawthorn15 231111349152501115810.50.515.26.621.85.03.515
2014#Hawthorn15 22129370181551130790.50.416.88.225.05.93.612
2015#Hawthorn15 21218366196562130931.00.417.49.326.86.24.413
2016Hawthorn15 154322611734385480.30.215.17.822.95.73.23
2017Hawthorn15 1912276164440119470.10.114.58.623.26.32.50
2018Brisbane Lions2 1911248122370121380.10.113.16.419.56.42.00
2019Brisbane Lions2 220227894372128390.00.112.64.316.95.81.80
Career[24] 346194150483427557589175711460.60.414.08.021.95.13.3131

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

Personal life

Hodge married long-time girlfriend since high school, Lauren Kirkman, in 2009 and has four sons, Cooper, Chase, Leo and Tanner.[3]

He earned the nickname 'The General' (which would later be the title of his 2017 autobiography[25]) for his leadership abilities both on and off the field.[26]

On 9 February 2020, Hodge participated in the ten-overs-a-side Bushfire Cricket Bash. Playing for Ricky Ponting's XI, Hodge scored 11* from 4 balls batting at seven, hitting two boundaries off the final over (which was bowled by golfer Cameron Smith). He then bowled the fourth and sixth overs of Adam Gilchrist's XI's innings, and bowled Gilchrist with his second delivery, finishing with 1/8.[27]

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.[28] He also made special guest appearances on Channel Seven's Football coverage while still playing as a special comments commentator from the 2016 season onward. From the 2020 season, he joined the network's Friday night commentary team on a permanent basis while remaining based in Brisbane.[29]

References

  1. ↑ Willoughby, James (14 July 2017). "From training-shy kid to AFL great, that's the Luke Hodge story". The New Daily. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Pierik, Jon (20 January 2017). "Luke Hodge to be remembered as one of the greatest AFL captains". The Age. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 McFarlane, Glenn (29 June 2013). "Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge opens up to Herald Sun reporter Glenn McFarlane". Herald Sun. News Corp. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  4. ↑ Migro, Jakeb (15 September 2019). "Love him or hate him, Luke Hodge is an AFL great". The Roar. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Player profile: 15 Luke Hodge". Hawthorn Football Club. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  6. 1 2 John, Murray, ed. (October 2008). Hawthorn A Perfect 10. Geoff Slattery. p. 10. ISBN 9780980516227.
  7. ↑ Duffield, Mark; Rynne, Nick (10 July 2017). "Is the Luke Hodge-Chris Judd debate finally settled". The West Australian. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  8. ↑ Brodie, Will (7 September 2010). "All-Australian team: our predictions". The Age. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  9. ↑ Paine, Jackson (11 July 2017). "300 games of Luke Hodge". Hawthorn Football Club. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  10. ↑ "Mitchell to captain Hawks in 2008". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "Cool hand Luke Hodge leads from back". The Daily Telegraph. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Edmund, Sam (19 March 2013). "Hawks skipper Luke Hodge has vowed not to rush back from a knee injury in time for round one". Herald Sun.
  14. ↑ ABC Grandstand (29 September 2012). "Swans snatch victory in classic Grand Final". ABC News. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  15. ↑ Matthews, Leigh (7 July 2010). "Hodge a natural leader". Australian Football League (AFL). Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  16. ↑ Twomey, Callum (25 August 2015). "Hodge cops two-game ban for Wingard hit". Australian Football League (AFL). Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  17. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (19 September 2015). "Player focus: 'Mr September' sets the tone as Hawks make a statement". Australian Football League. Australian Football League (AFL). Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ "Hodge confirms plans to head north". Hawthorn Football Club. 5 October 2017.
  20. ↑ McGowan, Mark (19 October 2017). "Hodge joins Hawk-led revival at Lions". Australian Football League. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  21. ↑ "Player Review: Luke Hodge". Brisbane Lions Football Club. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  22. ↑ Witherden, Alex (28 August 2018). "'How Hodgey changed a club' by Alex Witherden". PlayersVoice. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  23. ↑ "Tom Morris on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  24. ↑ "Luke Hodge". AFL Tables. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  25. ↑ Hodge, Luke (30 October 2017). "The General by Luke Hodge". Pneguin Books. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  26. ↑ Gullan, Scott (28 September 2012). "Hodge's sliding doors moment". News Australia. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  27. ↑ "Ponting XI vs Gilchrist XI Scorecard 2019/20 | Cricket Scorecard".
  28. ↑ Meyn, Travis (7 December 2010). "Who's who of sport hit the Coast". Sunshine Coast Daily.
  29. ↑ Gullan, Scott (21 February 2020). "Luke Hodge and Wayne Carey to form part of Channel 7's Friday night footy commentary team". Herald Sun. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
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