WHY LUKE HODGE IS THE VILLAIN WE LOVE TO HATE BUT SECRETLY ADMIRE

From the Geelong Falcons to 300 games at Hawthorn, with four flags in between

LUKE Hodge is the type of villain fans love to hate but secretly admire. Geelong and Hawthorn matches never need any extra spice, but when you combine news of Hodge’s retirement plans with his 300th match, Saturday’s clash looms as another epic in the fierce rivalry of the modern powerhouses.

Hodge has long been the front man of the Hawks’ uncompromising, anti-social, niggly, physical and, at times, intimidating brand of footy.

Premiership teams need a hard edge and players prepared to push the limits. Hodge was that.

But he has also been a mighty fine footballer whose ability to play injured and absorb pressure has helped him get to 16 seasons of a very high standard.

Outwardly, in the true sense of footy tribalism, some Cats fans wouldn’t like him. He has hurt Cats players physically and he has hurt Cats players emotionally by standing up in big games and big moments, with the most obvious example being the Norm Smith Medal he won in the 2008 grand final.

But many Cats fans would have allowed themselves, at least for a few seconds, to dare to imagine what a Geelong side could have looked like next year with Hodge sweeping off half-back. A farewell season as Geelong tried to squeeze every last drop out of its list in pursuit of another flag. It has proved to be nothing more than a pipe dream floated on Footy Classified.

Geelong Falcons talent manager Michael Turner yesterday described Hodge as the best 16-year-old the club had seen before he eventually went at pick No.1 in the 2001 super draft. Not many 16-yearolds are good enough to be selected for the Falcons. But he was one of the their best at that age and played a key role in the Falcons’ 2000 flag.

“The thing that pleases me about it is he’s finishing his career with his original club, Hawthorn, and he’s obviously playing good football and he’s still in the seniors, so that’s all a positive,” Turner said.

“I like to see players finish at the height of their careers and at their original clubs. I think it’s very, very well-timed. A bit like Cameron Ling when he retired after just becoming a premiership captain.

“In general terms, he’s one of the all-time AFL greats. A premiership captain, Norm Smith Medal winner, now this weekend a 300-game player.

“Probably the only thing he hasn’t won is the Brownlow but he probably wasn’t far off.”