Luke Hodge, Where?

[Roughies Boys]

I just got into a debate over which position does Hawthorn Captain Luke Hodge, would be used the best at, I just wanna ask supporters from other teams to see when do you gets frustrated with a player like Luke Hodge.

My Thoughts:

Backline: I thought Luke Hodge hasn't played his best footy since playing in the backline back in 2008, I think ity would add a greater dimension to the team.

Midfield: I'm not a big fan of having a midfield of players with the same leg pace in there.

Forward: I think he has got great hands, also a good kick & would be another option, but do we really need him there after we got Gunston?


Tactics: Hodgey plays in the backline for the first half just to have the game settled, then he goes to the midfield to explode for the third. Then finish them off with a stab through the sticks.

 

[Gone Critical]

Hodge is a very good player but is loved by a lot of peoplle because of the perception he is a footbalers footballer. Gets overrated a tad

Backline sweeper is his best position as the 2008 GF illustrates. Buddys the one that the opposition worry about. Hodge is good but no where near the Buddy level

P.S. I may have missed something re Gunston. He is a 14 game player who hasn't played for the Hawks yet. Why do so many people have him pencilled in as a fixture at Hawthorn? Did he do something in those 14 games I missed?

 

[Roughies Boys]

Hodge is a very good player but is loved by a lot of peoplle because of the perception he is a footbalers footballer. Gets overrated a tad

Backline sweeper is his best position as the 2008 GF illustrates. Buddys the one that the opposition worry about. Hodge is good but no where near the Buddy level

P.S. I may have missed something re Gunston. He is a 14 game player who hasn't played for the Hawks yet. Why do so many people have him pencilled in as a fixture at Hawthorn? Did he do something in those 14 games I missed?

Well Gunston kick 4/5 goals in the intra.... Also when he got traded to us they were talking about the role he would play

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

Backline sweeper is his best position as the 2008 GF illustrates. Buddys the one that the opposition worry about. Hodge is good but no where near the Buddy level

Lol? His best work is in the midfield by a country mile. See 2010. And nowhere near Buddys level? He was 2nd in the MVP and close to every media award in 2010 and was better than Lance Franklin that year playing in the guts. In 2008, Franklin had a freak of a season, but Hodge was still top 5/top 10 in most peoples best of lists that that year. He is not as good as Lance Franklin I agree, but to say he is nowhere near Buddys level is wrong. Just like saying his best best position as a backline sweeper is completely wrong as well, when his best seasons have come playing through the middle.

 

[Gone Critical]

Lol? His best work is in the midfield by a country mile. See 2010. And nowhere near Buddys level? He was 2nd in the MVP and close to every media award in 2010 and was better than Lance Franklin that year playing in the guts. In 2008, Franklin had a freak of a season, but Hodge was still top 5/top 10 in most peoples best of lists that that year. He is not as good as Lance Franklin I agree, but to say he is nowhere near Buddys level is wrong. Just like saying his best best position as a backline sweeper is completely wrong as well, when his best seasons have come playing through the middle.

That all depends on what you mean. Hodge is a top 20 players in the comp for mine.

Maybe there are 3 or so all time champions going around at the moment - Judd, Ablett, Black - would be mine. After that an established group who wont ever be all time champions but are not far off. To me Goodes, Pavlich and Reiwoldt fit in here. Buddy will be an all time champ if he continues on his current ways. Hodge belongs back with Brown,Chapman, Swan, Stevie J etc. Nothing to sneeze at but in my thinking nowhere near where Buddy will finish

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

That all depends on what you mean. Hodge is a top 20 players in the comp for mine.

Maybe there are 3 or so all time champions going around at the moment - Judd, Ablett, Black - would be mine. After that an established group who wont ever be all time champions but are not far off. To me Goodes, Pavlich and Reiwoldt fit in here. Buddy will be an all time champ if he continues on his current ways. Hodge belongs back with Brown,Chapman, Swan, Stevie J etc. Nothing to sneeze at but in my thinking nowhere near where Buddy will finish

I strongly disagree on Black being a champion in the Ablett/Judd class but that's for another time.

Fair enough reasoning that I wouldn't disagree all that much with, just the way you said it in the previous post I thought you didn't really rate him at all.

I think Hodge & Swan are streets ahead of Chapman & Johnson, but they are not on the level of Judd/Ablett/Franklin. Hodge & Swan have both been in the top few in the comp at certain points in their careers, whilst Johnson and Chapman have got nowhere near that level. Swan in particular has taken his game to a new level recently and has been every bit as good as Judd the last three years.

 

[Old Skool]

Utility.

Hodge is all about exploiting a match up.

 

[Gone Critical]

I strongly disagree on Black being a champion in the Ablett/Judd class but that's for another time.

Fair enough reasoning that I wouldn't disagree all that much with, just the way you said it in the previous post I thought you didn't really rate him at all.

I think Hodge & Swan are streets ahead of Chapman & Johnson, but they are not on the level of Judd/Ablett/Franklin. Hodge & Swan have both been in the top few in the comp at certain points in their careers, whilst Johnson and Chapman have got nowhere near that level. Swan in particular has taken his game to a new level recently and has been every bit as good as Judd the last three years.

Agree with that also. Put those 4 together but agree there is difference within that group. Swan and Hodge do top it.

Black is just behind Ablett and Judd at their best but he has been at that level so long now he gets in for mine

 

[00Stinger]

Utility.

Hodge is all about exploiting a match up.

Agree with this

 

[Monkey King]

Not consistent enough in the midfield over his career to have that position as my preference. I seriously think it's a lack of professionalism in preparation that holds him back in this regard, rather than his talent. By his own admission he struggled with this when he first came to AFL level and IMO it still holds him back from being among the top tier elite. His 2010 shows the talent is there to be better than he is, but time is running out.

In terms of consistency of performance, his best work has been as a backman and his reading of the play and left boot are really valuable in this regard, so that's where I'd have him.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

Not consistent enough in the midfield over his career to have that position as my preference. I seriously think it's a lack of professionalism in preparation that holds him back in this regard, rather than his talent. By his own admission he struggled with this when he first came to AFL level and IMO it still holds him back from being among the top tier elite. His 2005, 2008 & 2010 shows the talent is there to be better than he is, but time is running out.

In terms of consistency of performance, his best work has been as a backman and his reading of the play and left boot are really valuable in this regard, so that's where I'd have him.

fyp.

He was in the top 5/top10 players ( or top tier elite as you put it ) in the comp in all those years. Mainly playing in the middle as well which makes your opening and closing statements look pretty silly. Funny the way you don't rate any Hawthorn player and put a negative spin on everything.

Three All Australians, two b&fs and a norm smith medal by 27 is the career of a champion anyway you look at it. No doubt he will add to it as well.

 

[Monkey King]

He was in the top 5/top10 players ( or top tier elite as you put it ) in the comp in all those years. Mainly playing in the middle as well which makes your opening and closing statements look pretty silly.

Not sure why you've ascribed those years to him being a top tier mid and then used that as a basis to call my statements "pretty silly". If you're trying to tell me that Hodge really was a top tier mid in those years, I can't offer any sensible reply other than to say there seems to be a bit of hero worship infiltrating your thought processes. If you're referring to his performances down back, I reckon you should re-read the comment you've taken objection with a little more carefully.

IMO Hodge has not fulfilled his talent. He should have been a top tier mid on talent alone, but for whatever reason (and I have my opinion as stated) he simply hasn't managed to do it apart from maybe one year. Which is why I'd prefer him in the position he has played to elite more consistently - defense.

Funny the way you don't rate any Hawthorn player and put a negative spin on everything.

Three All Australians, two b&fs and a norm smith medal by 27 is the career of a champion anyway you look at it. No doubt he will add to it as well.

3 AA's, 2 off a flank. One Norm Smith in defense. Hmm ... seems to support exactly what I am saying. No need to get defensive about your team and play the persecution card; something you do with all too much regularity.

 

[donbooger]

I would prefer him in the midfield. Hopefully he will be given a chance to play more regularly there if Hawthorns back line can finally stay on the park.

 

[WWSD]

Our Half Back Flankers are Suckling, Guerra, Gibson, Birchall, Ellis and now Hodge? We have a ton of Half Back Flankers, mind you who are all gun left footers. Hodge has played some good footy for us down back, but i would prefer him playing Ruck Rover. Everytime Hodge plays in the midfield he kicks a goal. I like him the middle where he can do that 'crash n bash' style footy and win his fair share of contested footy and have that presence in the midfield. If i was to guess the % of were Hodge has played in his career it would be somthing like this. Midfield 50% Forward 25% Defence 25%. I'll have him in the midfield everyday of the week! If he plays prodominantly in the midfield this year, he could kick 30 Goals.

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

I loved watching him play as the backline general, but clearly this guy can play anywhere including a damaging role in the midfield. Would love him on our list!

 

[Roughies Boys]

Our Half Back Flankers are Suckling, Guerra, Gibson, Birchall, Ellis and now Hodge? We have a ton of Half Back Flankers, mind you who are all gun left footers. Hodge has played some good footy for us down back, but i would prefer him playing Ruck Rover. Everytime Hodge plays in the midfield he kicks a goal. I like him the middle where he can do that 'crash n bash' style footy and win his fair share of contested footy and have that presence in the midfield. If i was to guess the % of were Hodge has played in his career it would be somthing like this. Midfield 50% Forward 25% Defence 25%. I'll have him in the midfield everyday of the week! If he plays prodominantly in the midfield this year, he could kick 30 Goals.

Actually our Backline is very unsettled, cause Murphy is gotta be in there somewhere

 

[Upgrayedd]

He's overall nearly elite in most positions,

His body has failed him in being an AFL Midfielder however, An Attacking Half back/Forward is where he does his best.

He uses the ball brilliantly, hardly makes any errors in where to dispose and in these two positions it's probably more relevent to have a level head and the ability to pull off due to zones which go on

 

[Roughies Boys]

Burgers in the middle & Savage to add pace!