Hodge goes out on a high in Hawks win
HAWTHORN legend Luke Hodge has left the AFL as a winner after the Hawks edged premiers the Western Bulldogs 16.9.99- 13.11.89 at Etihad Stadium last night.
Hodge and triple premiership Hawk Josh Gibson did a lap of honour after the result, which ensured the Hawks capped a disappointing 2017 season with some hope.
A free- flowing and open first term became an end- toend shootout as the two sides traded blows. Bulldogs veteran Bob Murphy — in what could be his last game — played up forward and wasted no time, involved in four scores and booting a goal from 50 metres that saw his teammates come from everywhere.
The Dogs were opened up at times by Hawthorn who used the ball by hand with polish and found space and Jarryd Roughead looked in the zone while booting three early majors. In the second term Jaeger O’Meara’s tackle pressure was unmatched as both the scoreboard and the scuffle fired up before Liam Shiels was beaten by the siren on halftime.
Retiring Dog Matthew Boyd made sure it wasn’t just his mate Murphy who would enjoy a celebration, kicking a goal of his own to keep the Dogs in touch in the third.
Roughead was left hurting after a tackle on his former teammate Matt Suckling but shook off the limp to get back to business while Luke Dahlhaus recovered from a hip complaint to kick a goal on the three- quarter time siren to keep the game alive heading in to the deciding term.
The Bulldogs pushed hard in the final term but Hodge’s farewell wasn’t to be denied as his side held on to secure a nine- point win.