Amid the controversy surrounding Nat Fyfe’s late charge on North Melbourne’s Ben Jacobs – and whether or not the AFL would fine the Brownlow medal favourite – something may have got lost in the furore: the reputation of Luke Hodge.
Yet the story of Fyfe and Hodge are somewhat connected. Both were the subjects of poor, recidivist behaviour on the weekend, and both had something to lose.
For Fyfe, the chance to win the highest individual honour the AFL has to bestow on any player. Pretty high stakes in anyone’s book.
Yet for Hodge there may have been more on the line. His suspension – the second for the season – may have left question marks over his reputation.
Yes, Hodge has always been an inspiring leader. When the Hawks need a lift, he marshals his troops, is the first to the ball, and physically wills his team on.
But can a leader still be inspiring when, through his own reckless and at times belligerent actions, he is suspended for five matches in the one year? That’s almost a quarter of the season where the leader is powerless come game day.
Hodge’s latest indiscretion – his bump on Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard – has left the Hawks without their captain for the last two weeks of the home-and-away season.
In real time, the incident looked innocuous at best, and negligent at worst. But the replays showed the bump to be sickening, with the vision of Wingard’s neck wrapping around the goal post, as he became sandwiched between Hodge and the white padding, impossible to look at without wincing.
Was it Hodge’s intention to endanger Wingard in such a manner? Probably not. But Hodge’s physicality – the trait that has earned him the reputation of being one of the toughest footballers to ever play the game – has led him to become a repeat offender at the tribunal.
Hodge’s elbow to North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow earlier this year left the Hawks skipper on the sidelines for three weeks, and went some way in provoking the label of the ‘unsociable’ Hawks that has defined his club’s season.
Like most footballers who find themselves in trouble, Hodge conceded that he had a “brain fade” when he elbowed Swallow. In the aftermath of Hodge’s latest indiscretion, that same descriptor – “brain fade” – was bandied around to excuse the Hawthorn captain.
Because Hodgey is a really good guy, deified and loved by all. Even Wingard was caught up in the Hodge mystique in a post-match interview, saying he admired Hodge’s aggressive style, and had no problem with the incident.
But how many brain fades can one player have before they amount to a bad character record? Even if that player carries the same status as Hodge?
When Chris Judd retired this season, among the glowing praise the dual Brownlow medal winner received was the acknowledgment that Judd had a propensity to play dirty.
Judd was banned for four matches in 2012 for his chicken wing tackle on North Melbourne’s Leigh Adams, and in 2009 he was involved in an eye-gouging incident on Brisbane’s Michael Rischitelli. At the time, Judd described his actions as a “dumb thing to do”.
But it wasn’t an isolated incident. Indeed, in 2007 Hawthorn’s Campbell Brown lied to the tribunal when Judd eye gouged him to protect the then West Coast captain from suspension.
While these indiscretions didn’t define Judd, they belied his highly decorated career.
Hopefully Hodge’s own brain fades won’t supersede his reputation as a leader because he remains inspiring, belligerent or not.
But the Hawthorn captain owes his team one come September.
Bwite
Guest
I agree with you Don Freo. I hope Jax reads this. 'Brushed' means to stroke lightly and gently. Jax knows Jax s#*t.
Bwite
Guest
Agreed.
Bwite
Guest
But, with just a little 'bad luck' for Luke and a calamity for Chad Wingard, the cement might have turned to sand.
Abg
Guest
No dick heads policy rules him out of my club as would rescinded memberships. He's all yours - elbows & all.
Mark
Guest
Your bias is showing. You really have no idea. You're embarrassing.
Abg
Guest
Moving on, from a season best remembered for how not to treat champions.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Brian, you are accused of being small minded for the same reason as the likes of Franko. Like Franko and thousands of other tribal sooks, you will say anything here to advance the cause of disparagement of non Vic clubs and players. Hodge and Mitchell are smeared because they are serial dirty play offenders (like numerous other Hawthorn players of the past), not because they happen to be playing in a Hawthorn team capable of beating Freo and others. Hodge and Mitchell are not alone, there are plenty of others who commit dirty play acts from time to time.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Ah, that would be Ch 7 victoria
Penster
Guest
Wingard wasn't injured and Hodge knew that. He jumped up after the writhing around display and went on to kick 4 goals. Only reported "stiffness" the following day. Hodge copped his suspension and no one got hurt.
New York Hawk
Guest
Well said Frank. They should imagine Hodgey in their team's jumper and how that would make them feel. I bet no one is complaining about a bump here or a chest-hit with the elbow gone wrong there, then.
New York Hawk
Guest
Silvagni's act was 100 times worse than Hodge's. And Hodge is a natural born competitor. He is ruthless. Silvagni is a B Grade player in a never-was team. It's tough to get to the top, let alone stay there. Hodge is the captain and one of the best players in a team that could go down as one of the greatest ever. But he should apologize for a random hip and shoulder to an opponent who wasn't injured. Next.
New York Hawk
Guest
Yep, Hodgey won't be remembered for long. Just as long as the game still gives out premierships, Norm Smith Medals etc.
New York Hawk
Guest
Hodge is simply an extremely skilled footballer who goes as hard at it as possible. I don't care who any of you support, you would all want him on your team. Just like I would have taken Judd, Lloyd, Hird, Buckley, Voss, Stevie J, Chappy, Bartel, Goodes and a host of other players who I didn't like because they killed the Hawks on a regular basis. If they were wearing a Hawks jumper I would have loved them. If you think Hodge isn't tough, you don't know what tough is. Does it really matter if he occasionally goes a bit far by today's standards? The MRP lets players who KO other players off, yet Hodge has spent five weeks on the sidelines for minor indiscretions that didn't even hurt the other player. The game is physical and involves intimidation. Hodge is the king of the jungle in this regard and everyone knows it. Jonathan Brown was describing him on The Couch a few weeks ago, that he knew he would be a tough champion as he was hard as nails and was sledging Brown and Voss during this premiership years, when he was a first and second year player. His toughness adds to his legacy and any suspensions to minor misdemeanors are irrelevant.
Abg
Guest
Actually what I'll remember him for is shameful arguing with the ump immediately after the Wingard head jam when the player is upright planked, writhing in pain - one might suggest the captain show concern but not in this leader's skills set. There were so many punters, you included Penster, debating why dissing a great of the game (not on your team) was justified - I'm merely suggesting it is justified for Hodge's indiscretions.
Penster
Guest
I saw Matthews play during the 70's, he had a particular style for a particular era and was a great leader on and off field. Carey was a brilliant footy player but I'd still put Gary Ablett Senior ahead of him. Hard to compare eras of part time players with full time professionals.
Don Freo
Guest
A statement of contrition from Hodge is not on the cards, though, because he is obviously not contrite. Silvagni apologised and said he was ashamed of his act. Hodge? Nothing. Hodge, no doubt, is feted around Hawthorn for the act. I imagine he has had Clarko, Sammy and Gibbo around watching slow mo after slow mo, high fiving...while scanning team lists for the next star to take out of a sporting contest.
Don Freo
Guest
Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries do not administer the rules of the game or the MRP understandings...you dill.
Gordon smith
Guest
It is not a masking agent - I don't know what your expertise in pharmacology is but having a solid understanding of it as part of my profession I would love to know where you obtained this information?
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Hey I resemble that remark, I hated Hawthorn before Dodgy Hodgy was born
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Dodgy Hodgy doesn't like to be outdone by anyone, especially himself.