Luke Hodge to become 22nd on all-time AFL list alongside Kevin Murray
Luke Hodge will equal Fitzroy icon Kevin Murray when he racks up his 333rd AFL game. But the four-time premier is focused on the present.
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Luke Hodge will equal a Lions legend on Saturday but fanfare is far from his mind.
Brisbane’s Round 9 clash with Adelaide will mark the four-time premiership winner’s 333rd game, the same figure reached by Fitzroy icon Kevin Murray.
“Bulldog” Murray was a driving force on and off the field for Fitzroy renown for his physical style and notably championed the Lions-Bears merger.
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Though Hodge is quick to reject comparisons with the mighty Murray, his leadership and defence has been an anchor in the club’s promising 5-3 start to the season.
Now 22nd on the all-time AFL list, Hodge is more interested in Brisbane’s fifth place on the ladder and believes the Lions are nearing the consistency required to be one of the competition’s best teams.
“Consistency for us is just the more we play together, the more consistent we’ll be,” Hodge said.
“We’ve had lapses in games where teams have had run-ons and I think all teams go through that.
“I’ve had that plenty of times in the past throughout my career, but I think the pleasing thing for our group is the for majority of games we’ve been playing some good footy.
“It’s just about that consistency of putting in four quarters, which when you’re coming up against a pretty good opposition most weeks is a tough thing to do.”
Hodge was influential in the opening half of Brisbane’s 16-point loss to Western Bulldogs but said the squad was “disappointed” by their third-quarter effort.
“If you go through the first half, there were so many positives out of it … but that third quarter they dominated us and we just couldn’t get momentum back our way.
“When we have a bad quarter of football we’re more disappointed than anyone else. I think Fages has high expectations of this group and so do we.”
Hodge remains his own harshest critic but is yet to be rested from the match day squad as was flagged pre-season.
“Whatever’s best for the team. I guess it comes down to match-ups as well,” he said of an enforced rest.
“Every week we go in there have a chat with the coaches and sort of see the best side and the best way to play the opposition.
“So whenever I feel sluggish or whenever the coach say you’re looking a bit sluggish he’ll pat me on the shoulder, but it hasn’t come to that at this stage.”
While he’s feeling physically sharp, Hodge chuckled at queries whether he would be hunting down Brent Harvey’s 432-game record.
“I’ll let you answer that one,” Hodge said.
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