Brisbane slams Danny Frawley’s ‘ridiculous’ call on Luke Hodge

BRISBANE has furiously hit back at footy analyst Danny Frawley over his suggestion that Luke Hodge spend more time in the grandstand than on the field.

Luke Hodge isn’t happy with the umpire’s decision against the Tigers. Picture: AAP

BRISBANE chief executive Greg Swann has hit back at footy analyst Danny Frawley over his suggestion the Lions pension off Luke Hodge.

The former Tigers senior coach said clubs were now aggressively playing through Hodge to exploit his defensive vulnerabilities.

Frawley suggested Hodge should “put his hand up and play very rarely”, saying “I think Hodge has to sit in the grandstand now.”

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A furious Swann told the Herald Sun that premiership star Hodge had delivered in spades since making the move north.

“I heard Danny this morning and my answer is that Spud should stick to being a clown on (Fox Footy show) Bounce rather than being a football commentator. I am happy for you to quote me,” he said.

“Against Port Adelaide he was one of our best players. He wasn’t great on the weekend but no one was.

“We don’t expect him to be the best player. He is an on-field coach and it is ridiculous to say that it’s all finished now after one bad loss.

“No one was saying it in the first three rounds. He has been fantastic for the group. I like Spud as a bloke but that is ridiculous.”

The Lions are happy with what Luke Hodge has provided the club on the field. Picture: Getty Images

Like Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis before him, Hodge was moved out of Hawthorn by an aggressive list overhaul.

He retired, then signed on with Brisbane on a two-year deal of around $900,000 in total as a handful of AFL clubs including Collingwood made similar overtures.

Hodge has conceded just three goals this year from four games although his opponents win an average of 17 possessions to his 15, which is slightly high by Champion Data measures.

Frawley told SEN clubs were playing through Hodge’s man at half-back.

“I think Hodge is going OK, but I know for a fact sides now play through his man, that’s exactly what’s happening,” Frawley said.

“Watch the Richmond players with the ball around the centre just hold it up a little bit, they see Hodge directing traffic and they hit up his direct opponent.

“He’s showing all the aggression and he’s doing all the leadership stuff, but his actual DNA of what he’s out in the field for is to defend his direct opponent first and that’s unfortunately not happening.

“He’s got a bit of the ball and his stats look OK, but you’ve got to get behind-the-goal vision.”

Swan said Hodge’s on-field performances only told half the tale given his coaching while out on the field.

“What we got him here for he has delivered in spades. He has been a great sounding board for the leaders and fantastic for the kids.

“We have seen the growth in Alex Witherden, we believe he is getting better each week because of the on-field leadership.

“Darcy Gardiner is the same. We are pretty young back there and they revere him. They just think it’s fantastic playing with him.”

Mitchell finished behind only Tom Mitchell and Ben McEvoy in Hawthorn’s Crimmins Medal last year and ahead of Ryan Burton, Isaac Smith and Jarryd Roughead.

But having assessed their list profile in mid-2015, Hawthorn has spent the past few off-seasons bringing younger talent into its team.