Kissing Lance Franklin in Grand Final ‘seemed like a good idea at the time’ says Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge

HAWTHORN captain Luke Hodge says he doesn’t know why he kissed Lance Franklin during the Grand Final but “it seemed like the right idea at the time”. WATCH THE KISS.

2014 AFL Grand Final match between Hawthorn Hawks and the Sydney Swans at the MCG Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 27, 2014. AFLGF2014. Luke Hodge gives his old team mate a kiss (kiss of death). Picture: Tim Carrafa

HAWTHORN captain Luke Hodge says he surprised himself by kissing former teammate Lance Franklin on the neck in a spur-of-the-moment move during the Grand Final.

The Norm Smith medallist said the pair had engaged in a running battle during Saturday’s clash at the MCG that came to an unlikely conclusion late in the third quarter.

“I corked him a ripper last time we played, and then throughout the game he got me a couple of times, in the forearm and a couple of times in the back,” Hodge said on radio station Nova 100 on Monday.

“He went to chest me again and I kind of gave him a peck on the cheek.

“When it happened I was like I didn’t know why I did it, but it seemed like the right idea at the time.

“Then I heard the crowd laugh, I thought, ‘Oh no, they caught it on camera’. I probably didn’t think that through considering they are always going to have a camera on Buddy.

“It was something there. Bud’s are ripper bloke, the boys still get along with him, we are still great mates with him, it’s just when you are on the footy field you are enemies. It was one of those things.”

The incident revived memories of Hawthorn champ Dermott Brereton famously kissing Essendon opponent Bill Duckworth during a game in 1988. The umpires were in a more romantic mood this time — they awarded a free kick against Brereton as teammate Jason Dunstall was lining up for goal.

Hodge said at the Hawks’ family day on Sunday he was hoping coach Alastair Clarkson missed the impromptu show of affection.

“I didn’t think the camera was going to get me — I thought I was behind the play,” he said.

“If the cockroach (coach) had’ve saw it, I reckon he would have went nuts.”

“He (Buddy) ran through me a couple of times and gave me a few words so I thought the best thing to do was give him a kiss on the cheek to let him know we’re still here.”