Hawthorn’s decision to pick Luke Hodge at No.1 in 2001 will go down as AFL Draft folklore

IT was the draft call which put Hawthorn on the path to premiership glory and Michael Turner’s advice that saw Luke Hodge picked at No.1.

A young Luke Hodge in 2001.

IT was the draft call which put Hawthorn on the path to premiership glory.

Surrounded by a room full of Hawthorn recruiters and coaches, Geelong Falcons’ regional manager Michael Turner was asked which player they should take with pick No.1 in the 2001 super draft.

Chris Judd, Luke Ball or the tough kid from Colac, Luke Hodge?

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The Hawks needed a leader, they said, who could do a bit of everything. Turner was blunt.

“There were probably 10 people in the room with only three names on the whiteboard and I just said to them ‘if you don’t take Luke Hodge, it might come back to bite you’,” Turner said.

As footy folklore goes, the recommendation swung a tight call in favour of the hard-at-it backman.

A young Luke Hodge before being drafted in 2001.

At the time, Hodge was hampered by sore groins, but had already showcased the competitive hallmarks and “unbelievable skills” which have made the Hawk already a legendary figure.

Turner said Hodge also had a cheeky streak, but the aggression and determination served him well on the field.

Out there, Turner said, he was always a natural-born leader.

“He took a bit of managing at the time,” Turner said.

“I had numerous one-on-one conversations with him and he had to pull his head in a little bit — and he will have a giggle at that now — but he just liked mucking around and having fun with his mates.

“When it came to playing, he was just an exceptional talent. He read the game so well and he was just super tough.

“And he wanted to go No.1. He was ringing me up saying, ‘Make sure Hawthorn pick me No.1’.

“Judd came out of the blocks quickly and Hodgey took a few years because he went there with crook groins, but the decision looks all right now, doesn’t it?

“He’s one of the greatest players to play AFL and as all the champion players do, he’s been at his absolute best when the stakes have been the highest in the biggest games.”