Player Watch F/S Cooper Hodge

[wahawk]

Just reading between the lines based of what Luke said in that interview.

I think it’s noteworthy that he credited the local academy first when asked which way Cooper may be leaning.

It’s natural to credit the academy first, it’s where he currently is & it’s where he’s spent the majority of the last couple of yrs as opposed to HFC

 

[Philhawk]

It’s natural to credit the academy first, it’s where he currently is & it’s where he’s spent the majority of the last couple of yrs as opposed to HFC

I hear you. It was just my interpretation.

 

[caseman22]

Cooper spotted out training at Waverly today...........and confirmed by Luke on Agenda Setters

 

[QuietB]

Cooper spotted out training at Waverly today...........and confirmed by Luke on Agenda Setters

I was comparing Luke Hodge to Judd the other day - Hodge is actually underrated somehow.

Hope the Hawks get Cooper

 

[Coathanger]

Unless the Hodge family relocate,he’s odds on to be a Lion.

 

[Philhawk]

Listening to Luke, don’t get your hopes up.

What a ****ing moronic system the academy is.

 

[Jane Doe]

Hard to see him coming to us unfortunately. Luke mentioned he has no relatives down here apart from his brother in Geelong. Has all his family and friends in Brisbane. Why would he move down here.

 

[cs61]

Hard to see him coming to us unfortunately. Luke mentioned he has no relatives down here apart from his brother in Geelong. Has all his family and friends in Brisbane. Why would he move down here.

Reading between the lines, I'd say he's leaning towards Brisbane as well.

Hodge has made a point of how Cooper wouldn't have developed nearly as well if it wasn't for the Lions academy. He mentioned the really cold day in Waverly in jest yesterday, but I also remember how much he and his wife said they enjoyed the weather when they moved to Brisbane, so I think this lifestyle factor would play bigger part than you'd think. Their family is up there, Cooper's mates are there. Of course it makes sense for him to play for Brisbane now.

It is just the AFL shouldn't have allowed this situation to happen. Brisbane have gotten 2 number 1 picks as father son, have multiple academy players to come in the next few seasons, probably get Oscar Allen as a free agent, all just after winning a premiership. They talk about equalisation, yet on top of that they might get 3 time Hawthorn premiership legend's son as an academy player, and the only reason he wouldn't get there is if they are too spoilt for choice for academy players and he gets squeezed out. It is ridiculous the talent they are going to have in the coming years. Yet the media narrative was big bad Sam talking to Allen during the year (after the Lions had already done so).

I wonder how Melbourne clubs are expected to compete against Lions, Suns, Swans etc if we aren't ultra aggressive given the above?

 

[TylerDurden]

He mentioned how cold it was 4 times.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Easy fix. We have 2 years to get enough of the clubs who financially guarantee the success of the league to put a gun to the head of the AFL on this issue. I am certain that clubs like Essenscum and Carlton who are about to embark on hard rebuilds, as well as West Coast and Richmond who are just starting theirs will be sick of the hording of talent via northern academies. Time to go after them.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

He mentioned how cold it was 4 times.

And I thought Hodge was tough...for shame. A 20 degree winter's day in Brisbane still sucks when there is **** all to do up there.

 

[HedgeFund]

Easy fix. We have 2 years to get enough of the clubs who financially guarantee the success of the league to put a gun to the head of the AFL on this issue. I am certain that clubs like Essenscum and Carlton who are about to embark on hard rebuilds, as well as West Coast and Richmond who are just starting theirs will be sick of the hording of talent via northern academies. Time to go after them.

That simply ain't going to be happening.

 

[badgrill]

And I thought Hodge was tough...for shame. A 20 degree winter's day in Brisbane still sucks when there is **** all to do up there.

having to share any space at all with Dayne Zorko would be enough for me

 

[DearJai]

And I thought Hodge was tough...for shame. A 20 degree winter's day in Brisbane still sucks when there is **** all to do up there.

To be fair, I'm sure everyone likes the weather.

But when you're young, Bris Vegas feels smaller with every passing hour that you're stuck there.

If Cooper turns 21 and he's playing footy at the Lions, he's going to have completed enough road trips to realize he's made a horrible mistake.

Even if we don't get him, I wouldn't be entirely convinced he won't make the move down at some point. When your'e young and single, the world just looks a lot bigger when you're viewing it from Melbourne.

 

[Zurs]

To be fair, he has to keep talking up the academy as he still has another year of development in him. He can't say Cooper is definitely going to Hawthorn he has always loved the hawks. You reckon the academy would keep focusing on him then? selecting him teams etc? they would just concentrate on others. Good on Hodgey for keeping up the charade

 

[TONYC3163]

How good is Cooper Hodge? Should the club be that worried if he picks the Lions?

 

[Dave Id]

Pretty sure Luke Hodge has four premierships.

 

[Harper_Hawk]

The question needs to be asked. Why would Cooper Hodge come down to Melbourne. Get picked up at the airport by Roughead. Stay at his place for two days and train with the Hawks. Whats the motive here? Is it to appease Hawks supporters if he goes to Brisbane or is it still open to discussion that he may choose the Hawks? Seems a strange carrot to dangle by the Hodges?

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Pretty sure Luke Hodge has four premierships.

 

[chippie]

The question needs to be asked. Why would Cooper Hodge come down to Melbourne. Get picked up at the airport by Roughead. Stay at his place for two days and train with the Hawks. Whats the motive here? Is it to appease Hawks supporters if he goes to Brisbane or is it still open to discussion that he may choose the Hawks? Seems a strange carrot to dangle by the Hodges?

As CS61 allluded to, they could and most probably are so ridiculously spoilt for choice that he may be squeezed out with their picks and fall to us. We wait….

 

[CHUBBSS]

Coop should play wherever he wants based on the opportunity he has and will have as long as he keeps playing well.

The real factor is why can’t all clubs have an academy, it’s beyond a joke, every club should tell the AFL to get ****ed and start one, it’s good for the game and increases the talent pool

 

[Nugett]

The question needs to be asked. Why would Cooper Hodge come down to Melbourne. Get picked up at the airport by Roughead. Stay at his place for two days and train with the Hawks. Whats the motive here? Is it to appease Hawks supporters if he goes to Brisbane or is it still open to discussion that he may choose the Hawks? Seems a strange carrot to dangle by the Hodges?

Probably playing both sides of the fence. Seeing who would be offering more security.

 

[Roddy]

After watching that, I’ll be surprised if we snag him.

 

[Billyc]

Far from guaranteed either let alone both clubs will want him. And the lions have more highly rated academy kids at this stage. So it may not be his choice between the two anyway. I suspect he and his family are sensibly keeping both as live options, together with entering the general draft if neither club commits

 

[Bedi]

Unless the Hodge family relocate,he’s odds on to be a Lion.

Dont reckon it's a huge issue. Brisbane may be home but moving to Melbourne would be an exciting opportunity, esp playing on the MCG at a club his old man is a legend of