Luke Hodge to play for Learmonth in clash against Dunnstown

An AFL legend is set to pull on the boots in a one-off appearance near Ballarat when two sides honour a fallen mate.

Luke Hodge will play for Learmonth later this month. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

AFL legend Luke Hodge is set to make a long awaited appearance in the Central Highlands league later this month.

The four-time Hawthorn premiership player will pull on the boots for Learmonth against Dunnstown on July 31, almost 18 months after the game had originally been planned.

Hodge will play alongside good friend Matt Jackson with the pair having not played together since their junior days in Colac.

Learmonth president Stephen Griffin said he was looking forward to seeing what Hodge would bring to the club.

“He’s one of the biggest names to have played in the AFL in the last 20 years,” he said.

“There had been talks for a while and now it’s fantastic we’ve been able to lock it in.

“We’re expecting there to be a big crowd on the day.”

Hodge’s appearance will coincide with a special day for the Learmonth and Dunnstown football clubs who will again honour the life of Lachie Poulter who died after a reserves games between the two sides in 2018.

Round 15 of the competition will be known as Lachie’s Legacy round with a minute silence to take place before the game.

Griffin said the Poulter family had been outstanding in their support of having Hodge play on the day.

“It’s terrific Luke will play on such a big day for our clubs,” he said.

“We’ve got a great connection with Dunnstown and I’m sure it will be another emotional day for everyone involved. Lachie was a well loved member of Dunnstown and some of our boys worked with him.

“This will be the first game we’ve hosted against Dunnstown since Lachie left us.”

Lachie Poulter will be honoured on the day. Photo: Lachie's Legacy.

Learmonth senior coach Nick Willox said his young playing group would gain a lot from playing with the 346-game AFL veteran.

“It’s going to be an awesome day,” he said.

“When you get access to someone like him, you just want to take in every piece of knowledge he has got.

“We’ve got a lot of younger guys who have come through the junior ranks and there’s a few Hawks supporters who are quite excited about what’s ahead.”

Griffin said he hoped restrictions would ease, with crowds currently capped at 1000, before the game to allow more people to attend.

“We had a massive crowd in 2019 and I would expect the same again,” he said.

“We’ll look at having a post-match function as well and we will release more details in the coming days.”

Learmonth currently sit 12th on the ladder with three wins from nine games.

Hodge will follow in the footsteps of former Collingwood premiership players Dane Swan and Daisy Thomas have both already played Central Highlands league games this season for Creswick and Ballan respectively.

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