Luke Hodge set to miss Hawthorn’s Grand Final replay against West Coast with suspected broken forearm

HAWTHORN’S season-opening loss to Geelong is set to be soured with scans expected to confirm Luke Hodge has a broken forearm.

AFL Rd 1 - Geelong v Hawthorn

HAWTHORN’S season-opening loss to Geelong is set to be soured with scans expected to confirm Luke Hodge has a broken forearm.

The Hawks skipper was collected from behind in the last quarter of Monday’s clash by Mitch Duncan in a collision that also saw the Geelong midfielder reported for rough conduct.

Hodge immediately left the ground holding his right forearm and emerged after the final siren to tell several Cats players he’d suffered a break.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson refused to rule Hodge out, but it’s understood the veteran utility has a break in the ulna - the longer of the two bones in the forearm.

Hodge, who left the MCG with a splint protecting his right arm, cancelled a scheduled appearance on Fox Footy’s On The Couch on Monday night.

“I’d suggest it doesn’t look too good because he’s a pretty fierce warrior and he doesn’t usually come off the ground,” Clarkson said.

“He was icing up after the game and it was pretty sore. We’ll just wait and see, but he’s probably likely to miss a little bit of footy I’d reckon.

“Hopefully it’s not broken because if it’s not he’ll play next week, but he doesn’t usually come off the ground for something like that so it must be pretty sore.”

Luke Hodge with his forearm bandaged with ice after Hawthorn’s loss to Geelong. Picture: Getty Images

Hodge’s injury left a further blow to the Hawks, whose below-par performance left Clarkson disappointed post-match.

The four-time premiership coach said his side had only played one quarter in a match they lost by 30 points to a rejuvenated, Patrick Dangerfield-inspired Geelong outfit.

“We started the game slowly, worked our way back into it in the second quarter, played a really good third quarter and gave ourselves a real chance at three-quarter time, but we just played really poorly in the last quarter,” he said.

“Every indicator that we rate ourselves on in the last quarter were appalling.

“Full credit to Geelong ... they played much better than us, were cleaner than us, we fumbled a lot of crucial balls, particularly early.

“We were getting our hands on the ball at stoppage, but fumbling and giving it back to them. Despite us winning the first possession they were winning the clearances, which is unlike us.”

Clarkson said the Hawks would need to improve significantly if they are to challenge West Coast back at the MCG on Sunday.

“These guys have been really, really proud players for a long period of time and they served up below their best this afternoon,” he said.

“We’d expect that we’d bounce back strongly next week, but we’re playing against another very, very talented opponent. We’re going to have to play a bit more than a quarter if we’re going to get over the line against West Coast.”