In 2001 the Hawks took a punt on a kid from Colac at Number 1.
Luke Hodge was a priority pick for Hawthorn. Many assumed that Chris Judd would be number 1 but Hawthorn and St Kilda were worried about his troublesome shoulders at a young age.
Luke Ball went at Number 2 for St Kilda and Chris Judd Number 3 for West Coast. The rest of draft did have some highlights, like Jimmy Bartel @8, Nick Dal Santo @13 and the Cats also getting James Kelly @ 17 and Stevie Johnson@ 24.
All great players but Hodge and Judd stand out as champions of the game.
In the first few years, Judd exploded, making every talk about how Hawthorn had made a mistake. Hodge was a good solid player in early years but Judd was an instant champion. You could tell he was a special talent, the way he moved out of stoppages with raw pace.
Judd was surrounded by a couple of pretty good players in Ben Cousins and Daniel Kerr, they were one of the best on-ball brigades of all time with a champion ruckman in Dean Cox.
Judd received the game’s highest honour, the Brownlow medal in 2004 at age 21, won a premiership in 2006 as captain.
Judd moved to Carlton in 2008. Judd looked to have slowed a bit and was never the same player, my opinion, when he moved to Carlton. Even though he won the 2010 Brownlow, it was not vintage Judd we had known in his early days.
Judd, an absolute champion who peaked early but was tiring as his career went further. He did turn it on for his fans in the 2013 final against Richmond, will never forget his second half, Judd of old.
Luke Hodge had developed in his early days to a serviceable half back flank. A lot of noise was being made about how Hawthorn had missed out on a champion in Chris Judd, who was a star.
2008 was the year Hawthorn shocked a lot of people and made the grand final, a few young blokes in Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead we shining lights up forward.
This was the day Luke Hodge stood up and made every notice what a great leader he was to become. Playing on half back flank he controlled the game. Hawthorn were premiers and Hodge a Norm Smith Medallist.
Since 2008 Hodge has been the cornerstone of Hawthorn success, he has led the culture, expectations on the ground.
He is a country boy who likes a beer. He has been caught drink driving, paid his due, apologised. I can forgive him even though it is a senseless thing to do.
Hodge now has four premierships, three as captain. He has two Norm Smith Medals. These are the stats of great leaders.
Player Judd was more explosive but for value to your club it is hard to go past Luke Hodge.
Birdman
Guest
no, Paul's right. When Judd got 'tough', he got filthy (eye gouge, chicken wing) - at least he didn't go 'Hopoate'
Birdman
Guest
where did I compare footy depts? If I were to do that, I'd make the 'footy dept' comparison with the Weagles where he played his best footy.
Steve009
Guest
My point is that under your ultimate measure, 'success', that there are plenty of lesser players than Judd that have won more premierships than him, Hodge is just one them. Both great players that have shown that they stand up on grand final day, Hodge has been there more because he had a much better team around him. You mentioned it's a head to head comparison, but also compare the success of the entire Hawthorn football department against that of Carlton to measure which was the better player. Will be more than happy to tell any Collingwood supporter that Matt Clape is a greater player than Nathan Buckley under the birdman ultimate measure of success theory however.
Aransan
Guest
Judd played 279 games until the end of 2015, Hodge has played 286 games to the end of 2016. I don't think you can blame a player for retiring after doing their ACL late in their career.
Aransan
Guest
I think that is a very harsh comment. Quite a few gifted players became tough players, no doubt in reaction to the tactics used against themselves. Players like Jack Dyer, Ted Whitten, Leigh Matthews and I am sure other roarers could add many more.
Link
Guest
Judd is yesterdays man .. How long has he been out to pasture?? Meanwhile Hodgey keeps on going with the two Norm Smiths and 4 flags 300 games soon.. Longeivity and durablilty in the game is crucial . Judd was always too fragile ...
Paul
Guest
Judd was great at eye gouging too..A dog act..A filthy act
Birdman
Guest
the article is a head to head comparison Steve009 so your question is moot.
Penster
Roar Guru
Reckon Richard Pratt's heavenly $$$ inducement via Visy had anything to do with it?
Lofty
Guest
Steve009, I would not worry too much about mattyb comments regarding Carlton. He just hates the blues. Simple as that. I'm not sure if this is to try and get Macca wound up or what but that is the way things are.
andyl12
Guest
My source may not be one who's spoken to Judd himself, but I still trust him. He also said that Hawthorn's perceived drug culture (and I say "perceived" because the documents alleging the drug culture were dismissed as ingenuine by a court of law) played a part. In any case, Judd clearly didn't choose Carlton for the sake of being part of a successful team, and that is enough to make him an individualistic player. The Mitchell~Hodge thing will always be debated. When Vandenberg retired, the majority of the playing group wanted Hodge as captain because he was "one of the boys" in a much bigger way than Mitchell. But the heads at the club wanted Mitchell. Three years on, Mitchell realised a Hodge captaincy would be better for the playing group and arranged the swap without having to get the heads involved. A true sign of professionalism. As far as who was the better player goes, Mitchell was certainly more of an engine room and a starter of all things good. But his role within the team was such that he couldn't win games for us through his sheer presence (which Hodge could). The best way to put it is that they were both true champions who would sacrifice any type of individual prestige to be part of team success. Something you can't say about Judd.
Steve009
Guest
Skilton. Sorry, damn preemptive text
DeanM
Guest
Who is Bobby Skipton? Did he play for the Roos?
Steve009
Guest
Melbourne perhaps, and like Carlton they also looked poised to start their rise up the ladder at the time of Judd's decision. In hindsight Collingwood would probably have been his best option. Then we could have seen those Judd v Hodge games in the last 2 weeks of the season. Even then though, it really would have been Judd, Swan and Pendlebury Vs Mitchell and Lewis, while Hodge floats around the ground, something that Hodge does so well. But until I get this damn flux capacitor working, Judd's brilliance never got past the second round of the finals at Carlton.
Craig
Guest
Agreed. Ball was not close to Hodge or Judd, or even Bartell.
Steve009
Guest
So you would also take David Hale and Paul Puopalo over Judd on that ultimate metric. Teddy Hopkins over Bob Skipton for you too?
Birdman
Guest
Different players so hard to really compare but based on the ultimate metric (success), Hodge every day of the week.
Steve009
Guest
Not sure whether to trust you on this one Andy. Where did you get your information on the Judd Hawthorn decision? Either way, Judd game in game in game out was one of THE great players of the game, Hodges greatness comes from those big game moments. Moments that unfortunately for Judd weren't on great supply at Carlton. Carlton (particularly the supporters) were the winners of the Judd trade, we got to watch him each week attempt to drag us over the line. The big loser was Judd, because he didn't experience the team success and those big moments that he would have if he had of chosen Hawthorn or Collingwood. The general afl public also missed out on seeing what he was capable of on grand final day beyond his Norm Smith with the eagles. On a side note, while both great players, I rate Mitchell higher than I do Hodge.
mattyb
Guest
Just don't think he could have picked a worse club to go to than Carlton. Hindsight now I know.
MNEAL18
Roar Rookie
He couldnt stay at West Coast. That was poison