Luke Hodge coy on playing future as Brisbane Lions prepare for Richmond qualifying final

With four premierships, two Norm Smiths and 344 games to his name, Luke Hodge can do whatever he likes. But could a fifth flag extend his Lions tenure?

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Brisbane veteran Luke Hodge should be fast-tracked into the Ashes squad after expertly fending off questions around his playing future beyond 2019 amid preparations for his tenth finals series.

With four flags, two Norm Smiths and more than games to his name, few would’ve begrudged Hodge calling time following his maiden year at the Lions.

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Yet the former Hawk has continued to thrive in Brisbane’s defensive unit and now faces fresh interest off the back of an inspired 2019 in which the Lions have leapt 13 places up the AFL ladder.

Whether Hodge, now 35, will stay on another year is one of the biggest questions facing Lions management but the champion refused to entertain speculation ahead of next week’s qualifying final, pointing instead to the club’s collective rise.

What a champion. Luke Hodge will bring up his tenth finals series next month when Brisbane meet Richmond at The Gabba. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Well, we’re about to play our first final in 10 years so that’s the main thing we’re focusing on,” Hodge said.

“Where the group’s come from in the last three years, to see where we are at the moment is a massive improvement and I think credit to the coaches and all the staff and players for what they’ve put their minds to and what they’ve been able to achieve.

“But our focus right now is here – we’ve done some good work throughout the season and hopefully a big month of footy ahead and if can continue to strive and improve . who knows what we can do.”

There’s little doubt the Lions’ fairytale season owes much to recent signings Lachie Neale, Jarryd Lyons, Charlie Cameron’s return from injury and Hodge’s own longevity but the veteran insists the building blocks were laid well before their arrival.

Hodge did it all with Hawthorn - but could a flag at Brisbane keep the champion around for one more year?

Once a team lacking in composure, Brisbane now stand among the competition’s best pressure sides and Hodge is confident that trend can stretch into September.

“Last year we showed a lot of improvement in so far as we were in games.”

“Prior to that there were a lot of 60-point or 100-point losses but last year we were in all but one or two games and what we lacked was the composure in those close games.

“There were six games we lost by under a goal and eight games under two goals so throughout the pre-season by training and doing a lot of match simulation stuff, we’re calmer in those pressure situations.

“We beat Geelong by a point, we beat Adelaide by a point and lost to Freo but those closer games we’ve been able to handle those situations much better which gives us an opportunity we’ve got at the moment.

Once a Hawk, now a Lion. Hodge (centre, left) sings the team song with Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale and Eric Hipwood after extending his perfect record with Brisbane over Hawthorn in Round 19.

“We’re sitting second on percentage and that’s in part due to those close games we’ve won.”

Hodge admits he “probably thought more about putting on a suit and going to work” than playing another September series after calling time at Hawthorn but insists he wouldn’t change his Brisbane journey for anything.

“What I’ve noticed to me here is the good young quality people they are as well … they’re good young fellas who love football but they want to improve and they want to make their teammates better and that’s the best part about this football club.

“(Playing for Hawthorn) feels a long way off, a long time ago. This has been a new chapter for our family and we’re really glad we made the decision to come up for a couple of years. We really enjoy it up here and we’ve enjoyed what we’ve been able to build.

Originally published as Luke Hodge coy on playing future as Brisbane Lions prepare for Richmond qualifying final