Luke Hodge the right pick in 2001 AFL ‘super draft’

THE 2001 draft contained a smorgasbord of AFL superstars and Hawthorn picked Luke Hodge above all of them.

Luke Hodge of the Hawks leads his team out onto the field.

THE 2001 AFL draft has always been known as the “super draft”.

A player pool containing the biggest batch of future AFL stars, Premiership winners and all-time greats.

Luke Hodge, Luke Ball, Chris Judd, Jimmy Bartel, Nick Dal Santo, Steve Johnson, Sam Mitchell, Leigh Montana, Gary Ablett, Brian Lake, Matthew Boyd, James Kelly and Dane Swan were all up for grabs in 2001 — and all would go on to play in at least one Grand Final.

Judd, Bartel, Ablett, Swan and Mitchell would also win the Brownlow Medal, Ablett and Judd multiple times.

Hawthorn had pick one in the historic draft and went with then Geelong Falcons U-18 star Luke Hodge. Luke Ball was chosen by St Kilda with the second pick and Chris Judd was taken with pick three by the West Coast Eagles.

Chris Judd, Luke Hodge and Luke Ball are draft picks for the AFL.

Those draft picks have been analysed over the years since, many having various levels of success.

Geelong’s picks of Jimmy Bartel (pick eight), Steve Johnson (pick 24) and Gary Ablett (pick 40, Father/Son rule) drove them to AFL dominance.

While Fremantle’s decision to trade the No. 1 pick to Hawthorn, in exchange for Trent Croad (who would later return to win a premiership with Hawthorn), has long been criticised.

While hindsight is a wonderful thing, AFL legend Robert Walls says even with it, he would still take Luke Hodge as the No. 1 pick over anyone else in the “superdraft”.

“I would say Luke Hodge for premierships, captain, longevity and the ultimate team player,” Walls told Fox Sports.

“I’d have Chris Judd very close to him. Chris Judd’s game was about attacking the football, but he was pretty much a midfielder only.

“Well, Luke Ball was a really good team player too. A career cut short with injury, but I would go that way — Hodge, Judd and Luke Ball.”

Luke Hodge and Peter Schwab at the AFL draft.

Walls feels Hodge deserves to sit with the legend’s of the game, even suggesting the AFL reserve a spot alongside him in the Hall of Fame for the Hawthorn legend.

“I think he’s one of the all-time greats,” Walls said.

“The thing that stands out for me is he is the ultimate team player.

“Probably his best role is to play as a midfielder, but over the journey the Hawks have used him everywhere. Wherever they’ve needed him, he’d go and do a job there. Over the last five or six years he’s virtually been a second coach out there. He’s been able to give direction and be virtually a second coach, Alastair Clarkson’s right-hand man.

“He’s had full confidence in him, four-time premiership player, All-Australian captain, he’s done it all.”

Luke Hodge of the Hawks poses for a portrait.

Walls handed Hodge the ultimate tribute, saying every young footballer should model their game on Hodge.

“I just thought he was a selfless player. I just thought he always did whatever was right for his team. That’s why he’s so respected,” Walls said.

“I have one grandson, if he wants to play football, I’d like him to play football like Luke Hodge played his football.”

Originally published as Luke Hodge the right pick in 2001 AFL ‘super draft’