Luke Hodge or Sam Mitchell

[Rev08]

Both have had outstanding careers to date, and both were important in our 2008 premiership. If you had to choose one though (knowing what you now know), who would you prefer - Hodge or Mitchell? Hodge's best is probably better than Mitchell's, but has Mitchell been at his best for longer?

Luke Hodge
197 games
21.8 disposals per game
135 career goals
2 x HFC Best & Fairest Winner
1 x HFC Best & Fairest Runner Up
3 x All Australian
2008 Norm Smith Medallist

Sam Mitchell
208 games
25.0 disposals per game
49 career goals
NAB AFL Rising Star 2003
3 x HFC Best & Fairest Winner
1 x HFC Best & Fairest Runner Up
1 x All Australian
2008 Premiership Captain

 

[satan1]

How do you mean if you had to choose?

Who has had the better career? Who you would rather in the side? Who would you take if they were both 17?

Both are great, both are still playing, both are very different. I will have chocolate and vanilla.

 

[Rev08]

Knowing how their careers have played out (so far), which one would you pick if you could only have one? (ie. You are deciding which one to draft, but you have a crystal ball so can see how their careers will play out)

 

[Coach_Hawkeye]

i can't choose between the two, both as good as eachother , i can't say one is better.

 

[Flukey!]

I choose Hodge when we need a reliable defender and inspirational leader, and the Extractor for the clearances and everything Hodge can't do

 

[Tasmaniac]

At their best Hodge is the better player.

But Sammy I feel has been more consistent in playing at or near his best over a long period of time. My uninformed opinion is that Sam has been more professional in his preparation over his career too.

A lot will depend on how Hodge's career play's out from now, is he going to fall away now with repeated injuries?

I've got splinters in my arse on this, another 2 x years will give me the security of hindsight in regards to how quickly one or both of them fade away.

Can I wait that long to vote?

 

[Pino]

Sammy as a week after week clearance machine. I think he is one of our all time greats. Hodgey is a tough gun and at his best is as good as anyone. SM can stay on the park for longer periods. Love them both. No need for comparison.

 

[B&GBlood]

It is like asking which of my children I love more. I cannot answer; there isn't one.

 

[Bardo State]

Geez that's a toughy.

Ummmm....maybe....possibly....

ahh stuff it I can't split em

Mitchell has just been so great through sheer weight of consistency. However Hodge's best is just phenomenal

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Both have been great for our football club but I reckon Mitch has more left in the tank despite being older

 

[Thaihawk]

It is like asking which of my children I love more. I cannot answer; there isn't one.

What he said. Cannot separate my kids, and cannot separate Mitch or Hodge.

 

[Coach_Hawkeye]

I felt Sammy could have been Captain for another year or two, but i'm not saying one is better then the other.

 

[cryptor]

Would pick Hodge purely because he's more versatile than Mitchell in that he can play all over the ground to a high standard. And while Mitchell is a superb midfielder and right up there with the best of the competition, it's just that much harder to come across a player like Hodge who can do it all really well than a top shelf midfielder.

But just so glad that the choice doesn't have to be made outside of hypothetical situations like this!!

 

[Agent Smith]

At their best Hodge is the better player. But Sammy I feel has been more consistent in playing at or near his best over a long period of time.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts. Personally, I might just like Hodgey just a little more than Mitch, simply because of his idiosyncrasies... little things like smiling right in the face of Barry Hall when he was off his nut once (he had just given away two 50m penalties) and stuff like that, but that's just me...

 

[Pessimistic]

Id want extensive medical info before deciding - which would probably suggest mitch.

Could we trade hodgey for natanui ?

 

[Hawkas1988]

At their best, definitely Hodge

Hodge's 2010 season was unbelievable

Most consistent is Mitchell

Hodge has been my favourite player since we drafted him, my manlove for him is huge, lately I have lost a bit of that love due to his injuries and his form compared to 2010. I just feel that if Hodge had Mitchell's professionalism and preparation then he would have been an even greater player than he has been.

Both superstars of this football club!

 

[whiteTiga2k]

Voted for Hodge as he is a player that has me forever grateful of young me... for choosing to support Hawthorn.

Just love the way he goes about his footy and the way he always stands by his teammates. An out and out Champion. My footy Idol.

But... Mitch is a bloody champion as well, and I seriously love the guy and the way he plays.

He is more consistent than Hodgey, but as Hodgey is my favorite... I could never ever wish or imagine him being in another team

Hodge for me!

 

[Hand]

i can't choose between the two, both as good as eachother , i can't say one is better.

My thoughts exactly. Hodge has the ability to turn a game on its head. So I voted him. Tough choice though.

 

[markr]

I've actually been thinking about this a bit lately. Hodge is my favourite player, but for one reason and another (mostly injury) we rarely see him at his best. Mitchell plays at a high level week in and out and year in and out, so I have to take Mitch.

I also can't help but think that Hodge has never got himself into the sort of condition that a bloke on his money and a leader of the club should. Mitchell is an utter professional, but Hodge is always carrying a few extra kilos. I can accept that injury (both through collision, and things like OP) can prevent him from doing the running needed to have elite fitness, but he at least should have low skin folds. I know that is kind of a petty thing, but it just seems to speak of someone not doing quite 100% off the field. Take a look at when he was on that greatest athlete show. He was in great shape, but he was clearly not at the level of the other professionals there.

Reading back that is all incredibly harsh, Hodge is no doubt carrying injuries that will be with him the rest of his life thanks to his utter commitment on the field. I'd love to see what he could do without any injuries limiting his training and playing.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Mitchell to win you enough games to get you to a GF.

Hodge to win you the GF.

 

[Mullarkey]

Thought this was going to be a who is the better captain thread.... phew!

Can't split 'em, both awesome players

 

[NetworkNerd]

Id want extensive medical info before deciding - which would probably suggest mitch.

Could we trade hodgey for natanui ?

Id go for Mitchell. He has done it the hard way coming through the Rookie list system

 

[Bardo State]

Mitchell to win you enough games to get you to a GF.

Hodge to win you the GF.

This is it in a nutshell

 

[Hawkas1988]

I've actually been thinking about this a bit lately. Hodge is my favourite player, but for one reason and another (mostly injury) we rarely see him at his best. Mitchell plays at a high level week in and out and year in and out, so I have to take Mitch.

I also can't help but think that Hodge has never got himself into the sort of condition that a bloke on his money and a leader of the club should. Mitchell is an utter professional, but Hodge is always carrying a few extra kilos. I can accept that injury (both through collision, and things like OP) can prevent him from doing the running needed to have elite fitness, but he at least should have low skin folds. I know that is kind of a petty thing, but it just seems to speak of someone not doing quite 100% off the field. Take a look at when he was on that greatest athlete show. He was in great shape, but he was clearly not at the level of the other professionals there.

Reading back that is all incredibly harsh, Hodge is no doubt carrying injuries that will be with him the rest of his life thanks to his utter commitment on the field. I'd love to see what he could do without any injuries limiting his training and playing.

Agree with all this, exactly how I feel, had to pick Hodge though as he is my fav player however I too have had concerns with him.

 

[market]

Well I guess (from my view of the world) it would a little hypocritical to pick Sammy....(and Sammy is Huge for this club)...
Never got tired of defending Sam when all the "lets replace him as Capt" got their run.

But I remember just how good we are, when Luke is up and about...he is the man to go to in those last few pressure moments of a match (I reckon he actually wants the pressure situations) to help us stay composed and win.

I cannot wait to see him running out with the team again...he will inspire the whole club!