Alastair Clarkson offered Luke Hodge another year at Hawthorn before Brisbane trade

BRISBANE recruit Luke Hodge has revealed Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson offered him another season to stay a “one-team player”.

BRISBANE recruit Luke Hodge has revealed Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson offered him another season to stay a “one-team player”.

In a frantic final hour of the AFL trade period, Hodge officially joined the Lions along with Adelaide speester Charlie Cameron while homesick forward Josh Schache was traded to the Western Bulldogs.

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Hodge, a four-time premiership player, said he turned down Clarkson’s gesture because he did not want to hold back a young player.

“I know my coach was keen for me to stay a one-team player,” Hodge said in a column for PlayersVoice.

“When we were first having the chat he said, ‘Do you want to have another year with us?’

“But the reason why I pulled the pin had nothing to do with how I was feeling mentally and physically.

Luke Hodge has joined the Lions.

“It was about knowing Grant Birchall, Ben Stratton and James Frawley were coming back and, if I stayed, one of Conor Glass, Blake Hardwick, Kaiden Brand, James Siciliy, Ryan Burton would be getting dropped.

“If I was going to play another year at Hawthorn, that was another younger guy going back to Box Hill. I reckon that would have limited their development.”

The Lions today parted with 43 and 75 to get Hodge and pick 44.

Cameron also got his wish to move to Brisbane in a swap for pick 12 but former No.2 draft pick Schache is now a Bulldog in a trade for picks 25 and 40.

The Lions final deal was a pick swap with Richmond, handing over picks 20 and 25 in return for picks 15 and 52.

A couple of great inclusions to the den! Welcome @LHodge15 & @Charles__23 🦁🦁

— Mitch Robinson (@MitchRobinson05) October 19, 2017

Hawthorn recruiting manager Graham Wright said both clubs worked to fulfil Hodge’s request to play on.

“While we were hoping for a slightly higher draft pick, we are pleased a deal was able to be reached which allows Luke to take up this new opportunity with the Lions,” Wright said.

“Luke has been an outstanding servant of this football club over the last 16 years and we understand the personal development opportunities involved with his decision.

“We wish Luke, Lauren, Cooper, Chase and Leo all the best as they embark on this next chapter and they will always remain a part of the Hawthorn family.”

Welcome @LHodge15, look forward to learning off you! Also welcome @Charles__23 thank god I don’t have to chase you anymore! @brisbanelions 🦁

— Sam Mayes (@sammayes7) October 19, 2017

Great result for @brisbanelions in landing @LHodge15 and @Charles__23 inside the final hour! Bring on 2018!

— Josh Walker (@walkerjosh14) October 19, 2017