The crucial cogs of AFL's Round 7: Which players need to be the difference makers?
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Brisbane veteran and four-time Hawthorn premiership player Luke Hodge has called time on his outstanding 346-game career immediately after Saturday night’s epic three-point semi-final loss to GWS.
Lions coach Chris Fagan announced in his post-game media conference that Hodge had called it quits.
“Hodgey’s finished as a player – I wanted him to come (to the media conference), but that’s not his way,” Fagan said.
“He just wants to walk away quietly.”
Fagan added that Hodge would stay at the Lions, with his role to be determined.
Hodge ended his epic career as one of Brisbane’s best in the pulsating clash at the Gabba and fans cheered him after the final siren.
“He’s hung them up, the old fella,” Fagan said.
“He’s finished on a high note and he’s been unbelievable for us.
“I sort of knew, but I’d never directly asked him the question.
“So I said ‘is that it?’ and he said ‘yep, that’s it’, so that’s it.”
Hodge was already a four-time Hawthorn premiership player when Fagan lured him to Brisbane after the 2017 season.
Fagan, as a key member of Hawthorn’s football department before becoming Brisbane coach, goes back a long way with Hodge.
The Lions coach paid rich tribute to Hodge’s influence in the young Brisbane team, which shot from 15th up to second before their two losing finals.
“He’s a bit of a rascal, but mostly he’s good – he’s the best leader I’ve seen, one of the toughest players I’ve seen, he’s a warrior, that’s for sure,” Fagan said.
“He’s a really intelligent player, he sees the game as well as anyone I know – probably Sam Mitchell is his only equal.
“He’s a giver of his time and knowledge … there’s no doubt the development of our team has been accelerated by his presence.
“No, the time has come, he’s one of the all-time greats. More than anything, he’s a good friend.”
© AAP
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
It is time that the tribunal became more simplistic, closed defence loopholes, and became representative of the game that it is trying to serve.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has defended the AFL Tribunal's controversial decision to overturn star forward Charlie Cameron's one-match suspension for a dangerous tackle, as…
There’s a slight disconnect between the data, the record and the eye test for the Brisbane Lions to start season 2024. This week, Champion…
Brisbane star Charlie Cameron is free to face Geelong on Saturday after the AFL Tribunal used its discretion to turn his one-game suspension into…
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.