Luke Hodge

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Luke Hodge
Personal information
Full name	Luke Hodge
Nickname(s)	'Hodgey'
Date of birth	15 June 1984 (1984-06-15) (age 25)
Place of birth	Colac, Victoria, Australia
Recruited from	Colac/Geelong Falcons
Draft	1st overall, 2001 Hawthorn Hawks
Height/Weight	184cm / 91kg
Position(s)	Utility (Half Back Flank as of 2008)
Club information
Current club	Hawthorn
Number	15
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2002-Present	Hawthorn	132 (91)
1 Playing statistics to end of R26, 2008 Honours AFL Premiership Player (2008) Norm Smith Medal (2008) Becoming Vice Captain (October, 2008) All-Australian (2005, 2008) International Rules Series (2005) AFL Rising Star Award Nomination (2002) Peter Crimmins Medallist as Best and Fairest (2005) Hawthorn FC Most Courageous Player Award (2004) Hawthorn FC Most Aggressive Act Award (2004) 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) season .

Luke Hodge (born 15 June 1984) is an Australian rules footballer. He currently plays for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (Australian Rules). He made his debut in 2002.

Hodge was recruited from the Geelong Falcons U/18 Football Club, and in 2001 nominated for the 2001 AFL Draft. He was picked by Hawthorn with the Number 1 draft (taken from Fremantle for Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin). He was picked ahead of Luke Ball and 2004 brownlow medallist Chris Judd.

For many years he was in the shadows of the two more high profile stars; however, in 2005 he was named as Hawthorn's best and fairest. He has also been named in the all Australian team and in international rules team for Australia.

Hodge is known for his exquisite kicking skills and toughness at the man and ball. He has been touted as a future captain of the Hawthorn Football Club along with Sam Mitchell.

Hodge was named sole Vice Captain of the Hawthorn Football Club in October 2007, while Sam Mitchell was named Captain.

Hodge is engaged to Lauren Kirkman and they have a son, Cooper Jay (born 26 July 2008)

Midway through 2008, with the Hawks looking to bolster their backline, and in what would later turn out a masterstroke, coach Alastair Clarkson sent him back to defence (where he was All-Australian in 2005) and from there on Hodge dominated. Not only did he significantly reduce the impact of opposition forwards, he set up and created play out of defence like no other player in the competition. He was rewarded for his efforts when he was named on the half back flank in the 2008 All-Australian Team at season's end, along with Lance Franklin (Full Forward).

Hodge has a reputation as an extremely tough player. In the preliminary final against the St Kilda Saints, he injured his ribs in a clash with Justin Koschitzke. He was seen to be coughing up blood, but still decided to play on the rest of the match with the clearance of the Hawthorn medical staff. Hodge also played without his football shorts on one occasion when he forgot them and left them at his home. Instead he played in trackpants.

Hodge won the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player on the ground during the 2008 AFL Grand Final.

[edit] External links

• Hawthorn player profile