Player Watch 15. Luke Hodge

[noosa hawk mad]

Hawthorn tops AFL's tribunal hit list in 2008

• HAWTHORN'S insistence on playing on the edge of the rules propelled it to the premiership - and No. 1 position on football's hit-list.

The triumphant Hawks were the AFL's worst offenders when it came to tribunal appearances in 2008.
Twelve Hawthorn players appeared on 15 charges, with six suspended for a total of 11 games.
And the team will resume training in mid-November aware three key players have a sizeable number of demerit points hanging over their heads for at least the first half of the 2009 season.
Captain Sam Mitchell (93.75 points), goalkicking ace Lance Franklin (93.75) and gun defender Luke Hodge (71.38) can expect at least one-game penalties for even a minor offence that attracts demerit points.




Mitchell avoided sitting out the start of the 2009 season after being reported for a front-on bump to Geelong's Gary Ablett in the second quarter of the Grand Final.


The AFL match review panel dismissed the charge, saying Mitchell's bump was the result of a push from his opponent Cameron Ling.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Luke Hodge was one of the 22 Hawthorn players in the win over Geelong in the 2008 AFL Grand Final.

His stats courtesy of footywire:

Luke Hodge #15 Hawthorn Hawks

Age: 24yr 4mth Games: 132 Born: June 15, 1984 Height: 184cm Weight: 91kg Position: Midfield Profile | Games | Career | Splits | Fan Forum | Player Comparison

Season 2008 Totals/Averages

G K HB D M G B T HO GA GC I50 FF FA DT * SC *
Total 20 290 171 461 114 20 8 70 2 9 29 76 36 23 1,638 2,012
Average 20 14.5 8.6 23.0 5.7 1.0 0.4 3.5 0.1 0.4 1.4 3.8 1.8 1.2 96.4 118.4

* Dream Team (DT) and Supercoach (SC) stats only include regular season games. GA - Goal Assists, I50 - Inside 50s, GC - Goals Contributed (Goals + Goal Assists)
2008 Statistical Rankings
Ranked 16th in Kicks Per Game


Season Highlights
26 disps (20 kicks 6 hballs), 9 marks, 5 tackles and a goal in Grand Final 26-pt win over Geelong at the MCG (27 Sep 2008)
24 disps (15 kicks 9 hballs) and 11 marks in Preliminary Final 54-pt win over St Kilda at the MCG (20 Sep 2008)
32 disps (21 kicks 11 hballs), 8 marks, 4 tackles and a goal in Rd 22 78-pt win over Carlton at Telstra Dome (30 Aug 2008)
31 disps (22 kicks 9 hballs) and 10 marks in Rd 19 69-pt win over Brisbane at Aurora Stadium (9 Aug 2008)
32 disps (21 kicks 11 hballs) and 10 marks in Rd 18 54-pt win over Collingwood at the MCG (1 Aug 2008)
23 disps (17 kicks 6 hballs), 6 marks and 2 goals in Rd 16 30-pt loss to St Kilda at Telstra Dome (19 Jul 2008)
23 disps (13 kicks 10 hballs), 6 marks and 3 goals in Rd 14 57-pt win over West Coast at the MCG (27 Jun 2008)
31 disps (15 kicks 16 hballs), 3 marks and 8 tackles in Rd 6 12-pt win over Richmond at the MCG (27 Apr 2008)
Season/Career Highs

2008 Highs Career Highs
Disposals 32 v Carlton, 30th Aug 2008 * 36 v Essendon, 14th Aug 2005
Kicks 22 v Brisbane, 9th Aug 2008 25 v Melbourne, 14th May 2005
Handballs 16 v Richmond, 27th Apr 2008 19 v West Coast, 30th Jul 2005
Marks 11 v St Kilda, 20th Sep 2008 12 v Geelong, 3rd Sep 2006 *
Goals 3 v West Coast, 27th Jun 2008 * 6 v Western Bulldogs, 26th Aug 2007
Tackles 9 v Fremantle, 29th Mar 2008 12 v Sydney, 9th Jun 2007
Hitouts 1 v Geelong, 25th Jul 2008 * 3 v St Kilda, 18th Jun 2004

* Season/career high achieved two or more times. Match shown is the most recent game when season/career high was attained.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Luke Hodge with his Norm Smith and premiership medals

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Turned down Judd, but got a ripper in Hodgey

• THE lively and prolonged debate over the respective merits of Chris Judd and Luke Hodge affected different people in different ways.

Take long-serving Hawthorn recruiting officer Greg "Bocca" Boxall, who was part of the John (JT) Turnbull-led Hawk contingent who chose Hodge ahead of Judd (pick No. 3), Luke Ball (No. 2) and James Bartel (No. 8) in the 2001 national draft.

As Judd's star continued to rise while Hodge was stalled by injury, Boxall became defensive of the young Colac kid with the sunny nature.
So much so that in an act of frustration he grabbed his copy of the 2005 AFL Record Guide To Season and replaced the cover picture of 2004 Brownlow medallist Judd with a tear-out of Hodge.

He still has the book and laughs about it now, secure in the knowledge that Hodge, in his own mind, is at least the equal of Judd.

 

[RustyHawk]

Hodge sidelined​

10:09 PM Mon 08 December, 2008

Luke Hodge has undergone surgery to repair cartilage damage to his shoulder.

Having sustained the injury on his return to pre-season training, Hodge aggravated the shoulder again last week, with scans revealing the damaged cartilage required surgery.

The decision to undergo surgery was taken following consultation with a shoulder specialist, to repair the cartilage damage now rather than risk the same injury being an issue during the season.

The Hawks vice captain will miss Hawthorn’s training camp to Coffs Harbour this week, however, is expected to be available for the start of the 2009 season.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/News/Bl...x?newsId=70757


Croad, Hodge aim for season opener



HAWTHORN defender Trent Croad could make his return from a serious foot injury as soon as round one of the 2009 premiership season.

Croad played with an injured foot for the 2008 finals series before breaking it in the grand final victory over Geelong.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Pre-season delay for Hodge

Martin Boulton | December 18, 2008

PREMIERSHIP player Luke Hodge's pre-season training has been derailed by surgery, which could prevent him from joining full-contact drills for up to three months.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/preseason-delay-for-hodge/2008/12/17/1229189712712.html

 

[market]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25153628-19767,00.html

Shane Crawford says Luke Hodge is the best of all


Glenn McFarlane
March 08, 2009 12:00am

RETIRED Hawthorn great Shane Crawford says his former teammate Luke Hodge is the most inspirational player he has played alongside.
"I was fortunate enough to play in teams with the likes of Jason Dunstall, John Platten, Gary Ayres, Darren Jarman and Chris Langford in my time at Hawthorn," Crawford said.


I reckon Hodgey is a Champ, but still think the club has it right with Mitch as Capt at the moment.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Yeah would have to be up ther with guys like Archer and Hird.

Hodge is a super-star.

 

[market]

Cupboard has been bare of Hodge news for 2 months and now the floodgates are about to open!

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25157518-19767,00.html

Luke Hodge to stay down back for Hawthorn

Jon Ralph | March 09, 2009 12:00am

RIVALS who pierce Hawthorn's rolling zone this year will then have to conquer Norm Smith medallist Luke Hodge's smothering tactics.

Hawks captain Sam Mitchell said yesterday the brilliant switch of Hodge to defence late last year would become a permanent move.
Hodge dominated the finals as a defensive general for Hawthorn after being moved there by coach Alastair Clarkson in Round 16.

 

[market]

From Herald sun article on both BUddy and Hodge...

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25164025-19742,00.html

Lance 'Buddy' Franklin on edge

Jon Ralph | March 10, 2009 12:00am

COLEMAN medallist Lance Franklin and Norm Smith medallist Luke Hodge are both considered strong chances to return this week in Hawthorn's final pre-season hitout against West Coast.

The Hawks fielded a line-up with just one premiership player on Saturday against Adelaide in Berri, but will recall skipper Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli and Clinton Young for Friday's Visy Park hitout.


Hodge has had shoulder surgery to repair cartilage damage in December, while Franklin had post-season shoulder and thumb surgery, then jarred the thumb a fortnight ago.
Hawks football manager Mark Evans said the club would make a decision on the pair later in the week.

 

[market]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25170976-19742,00.html

Stars back for Hawks

Sam Edmund | March 11, 2009 12:55pm

HAWTHORN big guns Luke Hodge and Lance Franklin will return to action in Friday's final pre-season hit-out against West Coast.

The Norm Smith medallist and Coleman medallist will get their first match action since the 2008 Grand Final when they play West Coast at Visy Park at 3.30pm.

 

[market]

Hodge to 'play like a girl'

Chris de Kretser | March 12, 2009 02:10pm

Hodge, who played through last year's finals series with damaged ribs and still won the Norm Smith Medal, will be returning from shoulder surgery more than two weeks early.

Hodge, who had the surgery on December 8, said this morning on radio station SEN the recommended recovery period before playing again was 16 weeks.

"But I'll be back after 13 and a half weeks," he said.

The Hawk star laughed off the fact that he tended always to take on the odds.

"Don't worry mate I'll be playing like a girl," he said.

He said he would be skirting the packs and avoiding too much contact.

But he needed to play to hone his kicking and other skills for the opening round in two weeks.

Hodge said he had his first full-scale training hitout on Tuesday and had pulled up well with no soreness.

He had seen the doctor on Wednesday and been given the all-clear.

...so this is us copying the Blues style of play then??

 

[market]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25179072-19767,00.html

Luke Hodge and Lance 'Buddy' Franklin

Bruce Matthews | March 13, 2009 12:00am

HAWTHORN hard nut Luke Hodge has revealed he is returning from
shoulder surgery more than two weeks ahead of schedule.

Hodge and teammate Lance Franklin will play their first games of the year against West Coast at Visy Park today.
Hodge had surgery on December 8. He said yesterday the recommended recovery period was 16 weeks.

 

[sherrin_footy]

anyone got recommendations of what hodges best game has ever been?
im keen to watch some of his best games off bigpond today

 

[hawks_time]

Well his best return of 6 goals was against the Doggies in Round 21 2007. And I just found the videos. The 1/4 by 1/4 highlights are on 'videos 871-900'

 

[market]

Good find by Noose here....

http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermai.../couriermail/comments/take_me_to_your_leader/

Take me to your leader

Shane Crawford

Monday, March 16, 2009 at 12:20pm



He was Luke Hodge’s first AFL captain, and now SHANE CRAWFORD has declared the boy from Colac not only a certainty to one day skipper the Hawks, but possibly become one of the greatest captains of the modern era.
THERE was five minutes to go in the 2008 Grand Final and all I could hear was Luke Hodge’s booming voice above the roar of the 100,000-plus crowd.

 

[market]

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/nathan-buckley/2009/03/20/1237526331272.html

Danger Zone

Nathan Buckley | March 21, 2009


THERE was dispute last year about the 2008 Norm Smith medallist. When isn't there? From a seemingly even set of Hawthorn performances and a brilliant one from Gary Ablett jnr, plenty of prospects were considered. Ultimately the right decision was made. Luke Hodge was clearly the most influential player on the field.


The influence of Hodge in that zone combined with the glut of rushed behinds (which we should now see the back of) was profound in reducing direct scoring opportunities.

 

[market]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25224274-19742,00.html

Hodge shrugs off internal injury

| March 22, 2009 01:42pm


NORM Smith medallist Luke Hodge has admitted he went into last year's grand final against Geelong with some internal bleeding.
But the Hawthorn defender has played down its seriousness.
"It was internal, I think Brent Guerra did say I bit my tongue," Hodge joked this morning on Channel 7's AFL Game Day.

 

[HawksRock2009]

Did you watch the Grand Final mate. He held the Backline together and told anyone that could hear him where to stand, who to pick up and got the team playing as a unit. Can't go past his Grand Final work for mine.

 

[market]

Did you watch the Grand Final mate. He held the Backline together and told anyone that could hear him where to stand, who to pick up and got the team playing as a unit. Can't go past his Grand Final work for mine.

Yes mate, watched the GF live from the wing and seen it on replay at least 5 times a week during Oct. Have settled down a bit now, as we want to see what 09 brings!

Hodgey is a gun for the club.........but most of the people that read this, already know that.

 

[market]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25225510-19742,00.html

Sam Mitchell backs Lance Franklin and Luke Hodge

Jon Ralph | March 23, 2009 12:00am

HAWTHORN captain Sam Mitchell says stars Lance Franklin and Luke Hodge are primed to be unleashed on Grand Final loser Geelong
.

 

[market]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/73554/default.aspx

Cats are best, but can be bettered, says Hodge
By Ben Broad 10:20 AM Mon 23 March, 2009

HAWTHORN is likely to head into Friday night’s grand final re-match minus several stars but vice-captain Luke Hodge says that is no excuse for the reigning premiers not to beat “the best team in the comp”.

 

[Stubz]

Cats deserve favouritism - Hodge (HeraldSun)
Article by: Bruce Matthews
Time/date: March 23, 2009 09:50am

LUKE Hodge has backed Geelong's standing as Premiership favourites ahead of Friday's opening-round Grand Final rematch.

"They're rightfully favourites this year because the football they’ve played has been sensational," the Hawthorn defender said.


Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25227362-19767,00.html?from=public_rss

 

[market]

Is that Ben Broad and Bruce Matthews coming up with very similar articles...Bruce looks like he got his to the press ealier (30 mins!)