Luke Hodge

Luke Hodge
Personal information
Full name	Luke Hodge
Nickname(s)	Hodgey, The General
Date of birth	(1984-06-15) 15 June 1984
Place of birth	Colac, Victoria Australia
Original team	Colac / Geelong Falcons
Draft	1st overall, 2001 Hawthorn Hawks
Height/Weight	185 cm / 90 kg[1]
Position(s)	Utility
Club information
Current club	Hawthorn
Number	15
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2002–present	Hawthorn	228 (155)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 2013 season.
Career highlights
AFL Captain of Hawthorn since 2011 2× Premiership player (2008, 2013) Norm Smith Medal 2008 3× All-Australian (2005, 2008, 2010) 2× Peter Crimmins Medal (2005, 2010) AFL Rising Star Award Nomination 2002 International Rules Series (2005) Hawthorn FC Best First Year Player Award 2002 TAC Cup TAC Cup Premiership (2000) Ron Barassi Medal as MVP in U18 IR Series (2001) U/18 International Rules Representative (2001) AFL/AIS Academy (2001)

Luke Hodge (born 15 June 1984) is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Hodge is the current captain of the club. Hodge started his career playing on the half-back flank but as his career progressed he has been known to push up into the midfield. Hodge is a natural leader on the football field is known affectionately as The General by supporters, he can often be seen shouting orders and instructions to his teammates around stoppages.

Early life

Luke Hodge was born in the Victorian town of Colac and passionately followed Richmond as a youngster.

Career

Hodge plays half-back flanker and midfield. Recruited from the Geelong Falcons Under 18 team, Hodge made his debut in 2002 and has been nicknamed, 'The General'.^[2][3]

Hodge was recruited from the Geelong Falcons Under 18 Football Club, and in 2001 nominated for the 2001 AFL Draft. He was the number one draft choice of Hawthorn Football Club (taken from Fremantle for Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin). In the early years of his career he was unjustly compared with Chris Judd who was selection 3 in the same draft.

He was named in the 2005 All-Australian team and in International Rules team for Australia. Hodge was named sole vice-captain of the Hawthorn Football Club in October 2007.

He was named in the 2008 All-Australian team and in International Rules team for Australia. Hodge won the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player on the ground during the 2008 AFL Grand Final.^[4] He is also the last No. 1 draft pick to win a premiership, to date.

Hodge became the current captain of the club after Sam Mitchell handed over the captaincy prior to the 2010 Peter Crimmins Medal count.^[5]

Hodge played only 8 games in 2012 before being struck down with an PCL injury, he was underdone^[clarify] when he led his side in the 2012 AFL Grand Final and didn't have a major influence on the result.

More post season surgery and he missed the first game of the 2013 season, he played the majority of the season finishing fifth in the club's Peter Crimmins Medal award. Hodge played in the 2013 AFL Grand Final against Fremantle Dockers and was listed as one of his teams best players on the day. Hawthorn's victory allowed him to claimed his second Premiership and his first Premiership as a captain.

Reception

Personal life

Hodge married Lauren Kirkman in 2009. They have two sons, Cooper Jay (born 2008) and Chase Brady (born 2012).

Media career

Luke Hodge appears regularly on a Melbourne radio station segment during the football season. In 2011, Hodge competed in the third season of the Channel Seven television series Australia's Greatest Athlete.

References

External links

• Luke Hodge's profile on the official website of the Hawthorn Football Club
• Luke Hodge's statistics from AFL Tables