LUKE Hodge reached football immortality with his performance at the MCG on Saturday.
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A third premiership medal and second Norm Smith Medal were additions to a football resume which already had two of the former and one of the latter.
The boy from Colac, who landed at Hawthorn with pick one in the 2001 national draft, has forged a career which compares well with football’s best . Yet as he basked in the afterglow of the Hawks’ third flag in seven seasons, the notion he had earned the right to play up his career seemed of little interest.
“At the moment it’s a lot of joy,” Hodge said, when asked how his achievements sat with him.
But predictably, his next words incorporated those around him, not just his 21 teammates and coach Alastair Clarkson, but the entire club and coaching staff.
“I think it’s a lot of hard work we’ve gone through,” he said.
“Obviously we went through a lot of things we hadn’t been through (before). I haven’t had a coach that hasn’t coached for five weeks.
“But what I found out from our group this year is when things go against us, how many people are willing to step up.”
Others were more inclined to sing his praises. After all, few modern-day players reflect their clubs better than Hodge does at Hawthorn.
“He’s the heart and soul of this club. Running out on the ground and you see the number 15 in front of you, it’s what we play for,” teammate Jordan Lewis said.
“You know he’s going to give everything he’s got every single game that he comes out and plays.
“You know especially going into a grand final that’s when he plays his best football and he showed that today.”
Hodge, 30, and in his 250th game, displayed all the traits which define him — leadership, ball-winning ability, poise and precision and, importantly, versatility. He finished with 35 disposals — 21 kicks, 14 handballs — a tally which made him the second-most prolific player on the ground, behind Lewis who had 37.
But his impact at key moments — and notably during a five-minute burst in the second term — underlined why he won the medal.
The Hawks led 7.7 to 3.3 at the 11-minute mark when Hodge fired off a bullet-like handball to Will Langford, who kicked accurately from distance.
The skipper got himself on the scoreboard at the next foray forward, after marking a scrappy Jarryd Roughead snap 10 metres from goal.
He followed up by intercepting a Gary Rohan kick in and slotting his second two minutes later. The margin was out to 46 points and the match effectively over.
With that in mind Hodge, ever the swingman, went into defence.
His effort to spoil Lance Franklin in a one-on-one marking contest moments before half-time denied the Swans any momentum entering the break.
“I’d love to give him a man cuddle,” Clarkson said. “He’s been a special contributor to our footy club, special day for him, Norm Smith medallist for the second time in his 250th game.
“I’m probably better off giving him that cuddle in private.”