buddy23
16 Apr 2007, 16:53
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Hawthorns-Franklin-spectacular-Hodge/2007/04/16/1176696736233.html
Luke Hodge is like everyone else at an AFL game whenever Hawthorn teammate Lance Franklin is near the ball.
There is a noticeable lift in excitement among the fans, including the non-Hawthorn ones, when "Buddy" becomes involved in the play.
The tall, athletic Hawk kicked three goals in the second half, including the final-quarter sealer, during Sunday night's 21-point win over the Kangaroos at Telstra Dome.
Asked if he found it exciting to watch Franklin play, Hodge replied: "Who doesn't? He's someone who, whenever he does get the ball, you just know something is going to happen, something spectacular anyway.
"It's great to watch him play."
Franklin is in his third senior season and Hodge said he was adding elements to his game, including a greater emphasis on involving teammates in the play.
"It's something he's worked on himself, probably back in under-18s he used to do it all himself," Hodge said.
"He's brought more of his teammates into it, it makes us a better team."
The development of younger players such as Franklin and Tim Boyle is adding firepower to the Hawthorn attack, which eventually clicked in the second half of Sunday night after a sluggish start.
Once the Hawks worked out how to play against the Kangaroos' tactic of dropping a loose man into defence, they managed to open up the game.
The hard-working `Roos fought back to reduce the margin to 10 points in the final quarter, but goals to Franklin and acting captain Sam Mitchell killed off the challenge.
"Considering our forward line, we've got 'Willo' (Mark Williams), 'Buddy', Tim Boyle and 'Dicko' (Ben Dixon) down there - any of them are more than capable of taking a mark and kicking a goal," Hodge said.
"We've got no doubt that when we kick the ball in there, someone is going to do something for us."
Hodge admitted to a personal interest in Mitchell's best-afield performance.
While Hodge had a quiet game by his high standards, Mitchell was outstanding with 34 disposals, including 14 touches during the pivotal third term.
"I had him captain of my dream team, so I was absolutely rapt ... especially when he kicked that goal in the last quarter," Hodge said.
"It's very hard to keep 'Mitch' down - whoever tags him, he always finds the ball."
Hodge's enthusiasm about his AFL dream team prompted a few raised eyebrows among the media in the wake of the betting controversy earlier this year.
An AFL official confirmed that players are allowed to have fantasy teams as these are known before games.
Haha goood Hodgey.
Luke Hodge is like everyone else at an AFL game whenever Hawthorn teammate Lance Franklin is near the ball.
There is a noticeable lift in excitement among the fans, including the non-Hawthorn ones, when "Buddy" becomes involved in the play.
The tall, athletic Hawk kicked three goals in the second half, including the final-quarter sealer, during Sunday night's 21-point win over the Kangaroos at Telstra Dome.
Asked if he found it exciting to watch Franklin play, Hodge replied: "Who doesn't? He's someone who, whenever he does get the ball, you just know something is going to happen, something spectacular anyway.
"It's great to watch him play."
Franklin is in his third senior season and Hodge said he was adding elements to his game, including a greater emphasis on involving teammates in the play.
"It's something he's worked on himself, probably back in under-18s he used to do it all himself," Hodge said.
"He's brought more of his teammates into it, it makes us a better team."
The development of younger players such as Franklin and Tim Boyle is adding firepower to the Hawthorn attack, which eventually clicked in the second half of Sunday night after a sluggish start.
Once the Hawks worked out how to play against the Kangaroos' tactic of dropping a loose man into defence, they managed to open up the game.
The hard-working `Roos fought back to reduce the margin to 10 points in the final quarter, but goals to Franklin and acting captain Sam Mitchell killed off the challenge.
"Considering our forward line, we've got 'Willo' (Mark Williams), 'Buddy', Tim Boyle and 'Dicko' (Ben Dixon) down there - any of them are more than capable of taking a mark and kicking a goal," Hodge said.
"We've got no doubt that when we kick the ball in there, someone is going to do something for us."
Hodge admitted to a personal interest in Mitchell's best-afield performance.
While Hodge had a quiet game by his high standards, Mitchell was outstanding with 34 disposals, including 14 touches during the pivotal third term.
"I had him captain of my dream team, so I was absolutely rapt ... especially when he kicked that goal in the last quarter," Hodge said.
"It's very hard to keep 'Mitch' down - whoever tags him, he always finds the ball."
Hodge's enthusiasm about his AFL dream team prompted a few raised eyebrows among the media in the wake of the betting controversy earlier this year.
An AFL official confirmed that players are allowed to have fantasy teams as these are known before games.
Haha goood Hodgey.