Dylan Hodge, brother of Luke, unable to strut stuff at Draft Combine but still in recruiters’ sights

DYLAN Hodge could only look on enviously as 50 fellow hopefuls strutted their stuff for AFL club recruiting experts at Etihad Stadium last week.

Geelong Falcons player, Dylan Hodge. Picture: Cormac Hanrahan.

DYLAN Hodge could only look on enviously as 50 fellow hopefuls strutted their stuff for AFL club recruiting experts at Etihad Stadium last week.

Instead, he was advised to sit out the physical testing as the latter stages of recovery from a severe ankle injury wouldn’t allow him to work at full capacity.

Geelong Falcons forward Dylan Hodge. Picture: Cormac Hanrahan

While results in seven disciples, such as the 20m sprint, vertical jump and 3km time trial, are critical on a young player’s CV, the Geelong Falcons forward can rely only on his versatility and potential — and good family name and fame — heading into next month’s national draft.

As younger brother of Luke Hodge, he’s well aware of the inevitable comparisons with Hawthorn’s premiership captain and Norm Smith medallist.

“I definitely see a lot more pluses than negatives to it. The insight into the professionalism Luke takes into the career that he has had definitely motivates me to what you have to do and not do, as well,’’ Dylan said.

“Growing up, I took more to the cricket side, but my brother’s success, I guess, motivated me to take the footy path and at least to have a crack at it. Now I have an insight, it’s what I really want to do.’’

The Geelong Grammar Year 12 student is in the final rehab stages from two surgeries on the right ankle in the past two years ago and was selected in the Vic Country Under 18 squad despite only a handful of games with the Falcons.

“The strength and stability of it is 100 per cent, it’s just the range of movement in running that I’m lacking at the moment. I just need to get back that final bit of movement,’’ he said.

“Now we’ve got a 6-8 week block before pre-season to get the ankle up to 100 per cent to allow me to compete at a decent level next year, whether that’s at the (Geelong) Falcons or on an AFL list.

Hawthorn's Luke Hodge, middle, is congratulated by teammates after earning his second Norm Smith medal. Younger brother Dylan is trying to forge his own path to the AFL. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“It’s disappointing I can’t do the physical testing, but the opportunity to come here and, hopefully, talk to a few recruiters is definitely worth it.’’

Geelong Falcons manager Michael Turner described the younger Hodge as a “work-in-progress’’ who’s worth a punt by an AFL club.

“He’s a deadringer of Luke, he’s actually bigger than Luke and has exactly the same aura and attitude and a lot of presence on the ground,’’ said Turner, the former champion Cats wingman and captain.

“I think the best thing for Dylan would be for an AFL club to take him as a rookie so he could be full-time to work on his fitness and ankle because I think there’s a massive upside to him. He could in two years be a really good player.’’

Originally published as Dylan Hodge, brother of Luke, unable to strut stuff at Draft Combine but still in recruiters’ sights