Hodge: Taking on Hawks could be my very own version of family feud
IT could be billed as the ‘Luke Hodge Cup’ when the Lions host Hawthorn at the Gabba on Sunday. But the man himself says it will be more like a family feud.
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IT could be billed as the ‘Luke Hodge Cup’ when the Lions host Hawthorn at the Gabba on Sunday.
But the man himself says it will be more like a family feud.
After 305 games, 16 seasons, four premierships and two Norm Smith Medals with Hawthorn, the future AFL Hall-of-Famer says it will be akin to fighting a brother when his new club Brisbane take on the Hawks.
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“Anyone who has siblings, you love them to death but compete that hard to try and beat them and it’s going to be the same on the weekend,’’ Hodge said.
“All the blokes I’ve had so many great memories with over the years…on Sunday I’ll be trying everything I can to help our team get over the top.
“As soon as the draw came out, I circled Round 9 and Round 17 straight away.’’
Hodge caught up with a number of his former teammates in Melbourne last week and the banter has continued throughout the week in the build-up to a game that many thought would never happen — Hawks legend Hodge playing against Hawthorn.
Hodge retired at the end of the 2017 season but was quickly coaxed back into the playing ranks by former Hawks mentor and current Lions senior coach Chris Fagan.
He said the hectic travel schedule for Brisbane to open the season meant the clash had crept up on him.
“I guess it’s been the same as most other weeks as weird as it sounds. I actually had a coffee and a feed with a couple of Hawks boys last week and they sort of mentioned that we are playing next week,’’ he said.
“It caught me by surprise how fast it came around. Probably a good thing, I haven’t really over-thought it.
“At this stage it feels the same… no doubt gameday it possibly could be a little bit different. Have to wait and see how the nerves are then.
“My role up here is to help develop and educate the young, emerging side that we have. My mindset is that even though it us up against my old team, there’s no difference to what its been in the past.’’
Hodge said the way Brisbane’s young brigade have embraced advice from coaching staff and senior players had exceeded expectations since he arrived at the Gabba.
He said some extra polish and composure under pressure were the missing ingredients for Brisbane who have more than halved their average losing margin from two years ago (60 points in 2016 to 24 points in 2018).
Hodge does not expect Hawthorn to target him.
“I know their mindset going into every game is a pretty focussed one. There might be a few odd lippings here and there from the boys but their focus is on winning the game,’’ Hodge said.
“I don’t reckon Clarko (Hawthorn senior coach Alastair Clarkson) would care too much. I’ve been around him when other people have left the footy club and his mindset is that ‘he is in a different jumper, he’s an opponent’.’’
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Originally published as Hodge: Taking on Hawks could be my very own version of family feud