Luke Hodge

[South of the Yarra]

Just been watching the Hawks game and this bloke is a superstar. There isn't much he can't do. Highly skilled, tough and hard and great at clearances. People talk Judd, Riewoldt and Ablett. This bloke is as good as all of them.

 

[PortBrillance]

unbelieveable player, will be a brownlow medalist in the near future

 

[r dub 19]

Hodge has surpassed Judd.

 

[Xtreme]

Hodge has surpassed Judd.

Nothing to sneeze at, even Jack Watts has surpassed Judd this season!

 

[Brown n Gold]

Has to be a chance for the brownlow this year... Clear BOG's in 4 of our last 5 wins.. Unbelievable season for Hodgey. Looks like stripping off those extra 2-3kgs has made all the difference.

 

[sweet_daddy_coconut]

Hodge is definately a better player than Judd now, Greg Williams was twice as good as both of them but

 

[PumpyChowdown]

Hodge would be the first player I would pick if starting a team from scratch.

 

[Off The Couch]

Hodge has been in fantastic form this year - hopefully he will collect more than 2 brownlow votes this year but far more importantly continue to play that way for the remainder of the season.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Hodge has been in fantastic form this year - hopefully he will collect more than 2 brownlow votes this year but far more importantly continue to play that way for the remainder of the season.

He might even double his tally and get 4 for the year.

Pity that a lot of what Hodge brings to the table has gone un-noticed by the umps in the past, but hopefully he get's some recognition this year.

Would be a lock for AA at the moment, and is leading the coaches award comfortably.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

Hodge has surpassed Judd.

I think nearly everyone is of that belief now except for a few hardline Carlton supporters. Judd was a prodigy when he started but at 25 his best football is behind him. Hodge is going in the other direction and his best football is yet to come.

 

[Buddy Goes Bang]

Hodge has been in fantastic form this year - hopefully he will collect more than 2 brownlow votes this year but far more importantly continue to play that way for the remainder of the season.

+1

He's been sizzling from the first bounce this year but I fully expect he'll only really start gathering Brownlow votes from about Round 5 onwards when the media love for him propells him into the attention of the umpires. His talents on their merits don't attract votes. Crazy but true. Given the media's influence on these things though, he'll be polling well now.

Amazing to think that Lance Franklin is the third best footballer at the club.

 

[Chadley]

He is more than a lock for the AA

 

[AG]

Amazing to think that Lance Franklin is the third best footballer at the club.

Who is 2nd?

EDIT: Dumb question.

Surely Rioli hasn't overtaken Franklin.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

Who is 2nd?

I would say Buddy by a fair distance but Hawthorn fans and the media love to hyper up Cyril to near mythical status.

I would also say Buddy will be a better player than Hodge by the time their careers are out

 

[Buddy Goes Bang]

Who is 2nd?

EDIT: Dumb question.

Surely Rioli hasn't overtaken Franklin.

Serious question: Did you watch today's game?

 

[AG]

Serious question: Did you watch today's game?

2nd half.

Serious question: Do you rate players based on one game?

 

[Ed_Gein]

Prioir to this round he was still paying $14-17 for the Brownlow, considering his form that is really worth a punt. Wonder if it will drop after todays game. I think he is certainly good for at least 2 votes today.

 

[Buddy Goes Bang]

2nd half.

Serious question: Do you rate players based on one game?

No. I've watched every game Rioli, Franklin and Hodge have ever played for Hawthorn.

Rioli is the most talented footballer at the club.

Hodge is the best.

Franklin on his day is unstoppable, but he lacks the talent and class of the other two.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Definitely plays a brand of sexy football

 

[Ed_Gein]

I think nearly everyone is of that belief now except for a few hardline Carlton supporters. Judd was a prodigy when he started but at 25 his best football is behind him. Hodge is going in the other direction and his best football is yet to come.

I tend to agree in a way, i reckon Judd has gone backwards a little since his WCE days, still a great, great player mind. But i'd have Hodge at the Swans any day of the week. Brilliant player.

 

[PortBrillance]

Hodge would be the first player I would pick if starting a team from scratch.

This.

Would be my favourite player in the league (non Port)

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

No. I've watched every game Rioli, Franklin and Hodge have ever played for Hawthorn.

Rioli is the most talented footballer at the club.

Hodge is the best.

Franklin on his day is unstoppable, but he lacks the talent and class of the other two.

I will strongly disagree with this comment. Rioli hasn't strung together two good games in a row all year.

Franklin is a 23 year old who has the potential to kick 100+ goals in a season and has proven that he can do it, when in top form. No other forward has done it in a H+A season since Lockett and we probably won't see it again for awhile... He was the reason we won in 08, not Rioli or anyone else. His season was as close to perfect as you could get.

Some of you guys seriously overrate Cyril Rioli. Will be a great player but to compare him to Buddy is ludicrous

 

[Judd2Sewell]

I will strongly disagree with this comment. Rioli hasn't strung together two good games in a row all year.

Franklin is a 23 year old who has the potential to kick 100+ goals in a season and has proven that he can do it, when in top form. No other forward has done it in a H+A season since Lockett and we probably won't see it again for awhile... He was the reason we won in 08, not Rioli or anyone else. His season was as close to perfect as you could get.

Some of you guys seriously overrate Cyril Rioli. Will be a great player but to compare him to Buddy is ludicrous

Cyril's been struggling with groin issues all season (and pre-season). Buddy (supposedly) had an ankle issue that would've been rectified during the pre-season had it been spotted earlier, but unfortunately for us it hadn't. This mostly explains their quiet(er) seasons.

Conversely Hodge is fitter than ever, and reaping the rewards. What a player though, he can dominate anywhere on the park.

 

[Buddy Goes Bang]

I will strongly disagree with this comment.

As is your right.

Rioli hasn't strung together two good games in a row all year.

Given what Rioli has been carrying this year, he's excused a few IMO. That aside, his touch, timing, vision, power to weight, leap, speed, delivery, decision making, evasion and tenacity are all attributes up there with the very best in the game.

Franklin is a 23 year old who has the potential to kick 100+ goals in a season and has proven that he can do it, when in top form. No other forward has done it in a H+A season since Lockett and we probably won't see it again for awhile... He was the reason we won in 08, not Rioli or anyone else. His season was as close to perfect as you could get.

Franklin was the main reason we got to the finals in 08 in such great shape. He had an amazing season. He never won us a final in 08 though.

Some of you guys seriously overrate Cyril Rioli. Will be a great player but to compare him to Buddy is ludicrous

If Buddy had Rioli's attributes or Hodge's class he'd be twice the player he is already. Don't get me wrong, I love the big bloke. I just think that Hodge and Rioli are better footballers.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

^

He did kick 8 goals that obliterated the Doggies though. But Hodge was just, if not more, impressive in that one.

Though I agree with where you're coming from. Franklin has freakish athletic abilities that set him aside from most of the competition, though as far as skill and nous are concerned I think Rioli and Hodge surpass him.