Luke Hodge

Luke Hodge
Personal information
Full name	Luke Hodge
Nickname(s)	Hodgey
Date of birth	15 June 1984 (1984-06-15)
Place of birth	Colac, Victoria Australia
Original team	Colac / Geelong Falcons
Draft	1st overall, 2001 Hawthorn Hawks
Height/Weight	185 cm / 90 kg
Position(s)	Utility
Club information
Current club	Hawthorn
Number	15
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2002–present	Hawthorn	195 (135)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 Honours AFL Premiership Player 2008 Norm Smith Medal 2008 Captain (2011–) All-Australian 2005, 2008, 2010 (Captain) International Rules Series (2005) AFL Rising Star Award Nomination 2002 Peter Crimmins Medallist as Best and Fairest 2005, 2010 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 a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Hodge is the current captain of the club after Sam Mitchell handed over the captaincy prior to the 2010 Peter Crimmins Medal count.

In 2011, Hodge competed in the third season of the Channel Seven television series Australia's Greatest Athlete.

Early life

Luke Hodge was born in the Victorian town of Colac.

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'.

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). He was named in the 2008 All-Australian team and in International Rules team for Australia. Hodge was named sole vice-captain of the Hawthorn Football Club in October 2007.

Hodge won the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player on the ground during the 2008 AFL Grand Final. He is also the last No. 1 draft pick to win a premiership, to date.

Reception

“	According to an AFL publication "Hodge a natural leader...the Hawks devoted the first choice in the 2001 NAB AFL National Draft to Luke Hodge they got not just a great player but a great leader, too".	”
—Leigh Matthews, Hawthorn Great and 4-time Premiership coach.

Personal life

Hodge is married to Lauren Kirkman and they have a son, Cooper Jay.

External links

• Luke Hodge's profile on the Official AFL Website of the Hawthorn Football Club

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Sam Mitchell	Hawthorn Football Club captain 2011–present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Nick Riewoldt	Number one overall pick in AFL draft 2001	Succeeded by Brendon Goddard
Preceded by Peter Everitt Sam Mitchell	Peter Crimmins Medal 2005 2010	Succeeded by Sam Mitchell Sam Mitchell
Preceded by Steve Johnson	Norm Smith Medal 2008	Succeeded by Paul Chapman