EFL 2018: Glen Waverley Hawks midfielder Brandon Hodges receives Round 14 Young Gun nomination

GLEN Waverley Hawks midfielder Brandon Hodges has come of age in 2018, becoming an important cog in his side’s engine room as it pushes for a breakthrough premiership.

Brandon Hodges gets a kick away for Glen Waverley Hawks. Picture: Gavin Dore

MUCH has been made of Glen Waverley Hawks’ senior recruits.

Former St Kilda player Matthew Ferguson and returning veteran Brad Riddle headlined the inclusions in the off-season.

But beneath the experienced core has been the emergence of the next wave of talent, guiding Glen Waverley on a 12-game winning run and into premiership favouritism.

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Brandon Hodges arrived at Central Reserve from Bendigo league club Sandhurst at the start of last year through cousin Luke Broad.

The 21-year-old played the majority of the season in the seniors in 2017 but has established himself as a key plank in the Hawks’ midfield this year, earning the Round 14 nomination for the Eastern Football League Division 3 and 4 Young Gun Award.

“I get asked a lot of questions a lot of the time about the recruits and impact they have had, but we wouldn’t be where we are without that natural improvement from a lot of the list as well,” coach Ryan Flack said.

“While we’ve got a lot of players that are approaching that 100-game mark that have played four or five seasons of senior footy and really mastering their games, we’ve got some young guys like Hodges, Evan Pickering and Andrew Humphries who are 21 or under and they are improving at a rapid rate.”

Flack said Hodges had proven he belonged in senior football.

“We’ve given him a lot more midfield time this year and he’s probably thrived on that a little bit and proved he can compete in there with some of the better players in the competition,” he said.

“He’s got a natural strong build, which means long term he’s probably going to be an inside midfielder.

“His improvement has just been learning how to play inside the contest and at the stoppages and mixing it with the big boys.”