In brief
AFL matches: 21
Disposals per game: 26.8
Kicks per game: 17.4
Uncontested possessions per game: 18
Clearances per game: 3.7
Inside 50s per game: 3.9
Rebound 50s per game: 2.3
Marks per game: 6.2
Tackles per game: 4.4
Goals: 21
Review
LEADERS don’t come much better than Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge.
If he wasn’t already one of the best captains the game has seen before 2015, Hodge made certain of that by leading his club to its third consecutive premiership.
The 31-year-old again led from the front, producing an outstanding season.
He averaged 26.8 disposals per game, playing predominantly through the midfield and across half back, with stints up forward.
Hodge played 21 of a possible 26 games – missing five through suspension – starting and finishing the season in a rich vein of form.
He tallied 562 disposals throughout the year, more than in all but one of his previous 13 seasons at AFL level.
In the first five weeks of 2015, Hodge averaged 30 disposals per game, collecting a career-best tally of 44 disposals against Western Bulldogs in Round 3.
He led the way in a narrow win against Collingwood in Round 14 with 29 disposals, and was at his dominant best in big wins against top-four sides Fremantle and Sydney Swans over the two weeks that followed.
Spending time up forward against the Dockers (in his 100th game as Hawthorn captain) Hodge went one-on-one with Dockers’ star Nat Fyfe, finishing with three goals and 31 disposals. His 30-disposal performance against the Swans the following week was equally effective.
After a quiet qualifying final against West Coast Eagles – following a two-week suspension and drink-driving incident – Hodge bounced back to dominate the 2015 finals series.
He set the tone in the Hawks’ semi-final win against Adelaide Crows, kicking the first goal – one of four for the match – and was equally influential against the Dockers in the preliminary final and on grand final day against West Coast Eagles.
As the good players and good leaders do, Hodge stood up when his team needed him to.
A miraculous check-side goal from the boundary line – arguably one of the best in grand final history – set the tone early in the second quarter, opening up a five-goal advantage.
The skipper finished fourth in the Peter Crimmins Medal, was named the club’s Most Consistent Player, and led his country in its International Rules match against Ireland.
GM - Football Operations Chris Fagan says...
“He could arguably be one of the best captains that’s ever been,” Fagan said.
“In terms of on-field leadership, on-field coaching, direction and guidance to his team… and he’s a bit like Shaun Burgoyne, there’s just moments in games when Hodgey stands up.
“After a disappointing qualifying final against West Coast, he kicked the first goal in the semi final against Adelaide. When West Coast was a little bit on the ropes in the grand final, he pulled out that amazing banana kick goal from the pocket.
“He just inspires everyone with the example that he sets – his toughness, his hardness at the footy and his intelligence.”
In the news
VIDEO: Luke Hodge on ‘Line in the Sand’ match
NEWS: Hodge leads from the front in semi final
NEWS: Hodge joins elite company
