WHEN it comes to Jordan Lewis stepping up on the big stage, there’s one match that immediately comes to mind for Luke Hodge.

There have been finals and grand finals, but it’s a clash with Port Adelaide – and Lewis’ performance in that match – which floods the memory of the Hawthorn skipper.

It wasn’t a match the Hawks won.

The Power led at every interval in Round 10, 2014, but according to Hodge, it was Jordan Lewis who almost carried his side across the line.

“It was disappointing for the fact that we lost, but I think it showed his maturity,” Hodge said.

“It was in his best and fairest year… We were missing Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson, I think Jarryd Roughead was suspended, Brian Lake was out and we had a very young team.”

In front of more than 52,000 people at Adelaide Oval, Lewis produced one of the best performances of his career.

“We played Port Adelaide over there, he had 40-odd touches and kicked two goals, and he was pretty much the only person who stood up over there,” Hodge said.

“Everyone knows what the Adelaide Oval’s like when you play over there, it’s a ferocious crowd, and he was outstanding.

“He really enjoyed that scene, he really enjoyed the big occasion.”

Lewis finished with a game-high 38 disposals in a losing cause – plus nine clearances and six inside 50s – doing everything in his power to help seal a win for the Hawks.

The Hawks never led throughout the match. But back-to-back goals from Lewis late in the third quarter inspired the Hawks, who closed a 30-point deficit to just seven points at the final change.

“That probably sticks in my mind – not so much the win or loss, because we lost – but more his attitude on the ground, how hard he was and just how much he was trying to will us to get over the line,” Hodge said.