1. Luke Hodge was born on 15 June 1984 and is a former Australian rules football player who played with the Hawthorn Football Club and the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League.
29 Facts About Luke Hodge
1. 2.
Luke Hodge played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 2002 to 2017, captaining the club from 2011 to 2016.
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In 2018, Hodge moved to the Brisbane Lions, before retiring in 2019.
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Luke Hodge started his career playing on the half-back flank but as his career progressed he has been known to push up into the midfield.
5.
Luke Hodge is a four-time premiership player, three-time premiership captain and a two-time Norm Smith Medallist.
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Luke Hodge is widely regarded as one of the most respected players, in particular as a captain, to have ever participated in the sport.
7.
Luke Hodge supported Richmond during his childhood, with his favourite player being Matthew Richardson.
8.
Luke Hodge played as a half-back flanker and midfielder during his playing career.
9.
Luke Hodge was recruited from the Geelong Falcons Under-18 Football Club, and in 2001 nominated for the 2001 AFL Draft.
10.
Luke Hodge was the number-one draft choice of Hawthorn Football Club.
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Luke Hodge was named in the 2005 All-Australian team and in the International Rules team for Australia.
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Luke Hodge was named sole vice-captain of the Hawthorn Football Club in October 2007.
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Luke Hodge was named in the 2008 All-Australian team and in the International Rules team for Australia.
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Luke Hodge won the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player on the ground during the 2008 AFL Grand Final.
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Luke Hodge became the captain of the club after Sam Mitchell handed over the captaincy prior to the 2010 Peter Crimmins Medal count.
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Luke Hodge played only eight home and away games in 2012 due to a Posterior cruciate ligament injury.
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Luke Hodge played in the 2013 AFL Grand Final against Fremantle Dockers and was listed as one of his team's best players on the day.
18.
Luke Hodge played his 250th career game in the Grand Final, with the Hawks defeating the Sydney Swans to win their 12th premiership.
19.
Luke Hodge was suspended for two weeks in round 21,2015 by the Match Review Panel for an incident in which made contact with Chad Wingard in close proximity to the behind post.
20.
Luke Hodge announced in July 2017 that he would retire at the end of the season.
21.
In October 2017, Hawthorn confirmed media speculation that Luke Hodge would seek a move to Brisbane Lions in the forthcoming trade period.
22.
Luke Hodge was officially traded Brisbane during the trade period.
23.
Luke Hodge has received much praise from teammates, staff of the club, and media alike for his significant impact on the team, noting his outstanding leadership both on and off the field continuing on from his time at Hawthorn.
24.
Luke Hodge married long-time girlfriend since high school, Lauren Kirkman, in 2009 and has four sons, Cooper, Chase, Leo and Tanner.
25.
Luke Hodge earned the nickname 'The General' for his leadership abilities both on and off the field.
26.
On 9 February 2020, Luke Hodge participated in the ten-overs-a-side Bushfire Cricket Bash.
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Luke Hodge appears regularly on a Melbourne radio station segment during the football season.
28.
In 2011, Luke Hodge competed in the third season of the Channel Seven television series Australia's Greatest Athlete.
29.
Luke Hodge made special guest appearances on Channel Seven's Football coverage while still playing as a special comments commentator from the 2016 season onward.