HODGE PLANS TO BE A HAW-THORN IN DEW’S SIDE

HAWTHORN have a 10-year premiership reunion this year and Luke Hodge is keen to take Queensland bragging rights over ex-teammate and Suns coach Stuart Dew into that party.

Hodge and Dew go head-to-head on Sunday in their debut QClash matches, with Hodge on the field and Dew in the coaches’ box.

The star duo were crucial in Hawthorn’s unexpected 2008 premiership victory over Geelong – the club’s first since 1991 – leading to almost a decade of dominance that included flags in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

While playing in the humidity of the Gabba is a fair leap away from the intensity of a packed-out MCG, Hodge said he’ll put his energy into building the QClash and has urged his new teammates at Brisbane to treat it like the biggest game of the year.

While Hodge admits that personally the Round 9 clash against former club the Hawks will be massive, he is encouraging the Lions to embrace every aspect of the growing cross-town rivalry.

“Whenever you play against former teammates there’s something there and without a doubt, as soon as the schedule came out I circled (the Hawks game),’’ he said.

“But I’m really looking forward to the QClash too, I think everyone looks forward to taking on your main rivals.’’

He said the Hawks players always looked forward to Easter Monday against Geelong and – in recent years – clashes with new rivals the Swans. He said the sound from the Gabba crowd

in the Round 2 clash against Melbourne – his first game at the ground in “about 10 years” – had surprised him and he was excited by the atmosphere a QClash might produce.

“I know the players love it, they really look forward to it, it is one of those games when the fixtures come out they all look for,’’ Hodge said.

“I think the Lions supporters will get behind it and I hope there’s plenty of Suns people that make the trip up also.

“I hope both clubs can get behind it and really turn it into something special. You can see what is happening in other states, the build-up lasts weeks in South Australia and Western Australia and even in Sydney. It is becoming a big game.

“Against Melbourne it was loud, it was hard to believe, and the boys say you should hear the place when we get 25,000 in there, hopefully on QClash that happens and is a huge atmosphere.’’

Hodge said although media hype had a part to play, it was up to the sides to produce the type of classics that give birth to true rivalries.

He was fully across recent history between the two sides and suggested the Lions’ win in Round 1 last year was the type of game people remembered.

“I think the rivalry will grow as both clubs the ladder,’’ continue he to said. develop and climb up

“You can see what we are trying to do and we’ve been in pos some games and the Suns have started well too.’’

Hodge, the Norm Smith Medallist in the 2008 grand final, was lured to Brisbane at the end of last season by coach Chris Fagan, putting his retirement