Social media went into melt down yesterday afternoon, as fans learnt that their much loved 'Hodgey', after 16 seasons, four premierships and two Norm Smith medals, would be hanging up the boots at the end of 2017.
Outpourings of adoration, appreciation and heart break flooded the internet.
Here are some of the reactions.
If I'd ever been good enough to play AFL & I wasn't playing w him, I think I'd wear a scar from @LHodge15 w bloody pride! Amazing career
— Shura Taft (@ShuraTaft) July 10, 2017
Very difficult to summarise all the joy Hodgey has brought to Hawks fans. A true legend. 2018 will be very strange without him. https://t.co/Nw6RJoAzXS
— lehmo (@lehmo23) July 10, 2017
Luke Hodge | 4 x Premierships | 2 x Norm Smith Medals | 3 x All Australian | Giant of the modern era, footballing CV of immortality pic.twitter.com/hVuekmOU1c
— Michael Willson (@MichaelCWillson) July 10, 2017
Love him or hate him, Luke Hodge will go down as an all-time great of the game. Future Hall of Famer. One of the best of his generation
— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) July 10, 2017
Hodge: When Juddy and Bally retired, my uncle said, "who would have guessed the fat slow one is still going?"#StrongAsOne
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) July 10, 2017
You can't sum up Luke's leadership & character better than the fact he is retiring so that he doesn't take a kids place. Hodgey @HawthornFC
— Mad (@brownand_gold) July 10, 2017
Been a star Hodgey, bit flat we might not get another chance to butt heads.. always bloody competitive but a lot of fun! @LHodge15 #welldone
— steve johnson (@Steviejohnson20) July 10, 2017
Thanks for everything you have given our great club @LHodge15 You are a legend and thank you will never be enough! Love ya Hodgey!
— Andrew Verevis (@Hawkstar18) July 10, 2017
Hodgey what an absolute champion, on and off the field. @LHodge15 @HawthornFC
— Rebecca Maddern (@RebeccaMaddern9) July 10, 2017
Loved our ding-dong battles the past 15 years @LHodge15 & what they created! Congrats on your career - a privilege for me to work with you.
— Andrew Russell (@jackrussellEP) July 10, 2017
It's a fair resume...
— Talking Footy (@talkingfooty) July 10, 2017
Bravo @LHodge15 #TalkingFooty pic.twitter.com/Et5CuUFgPR
The General @LHodge15. Nothing general about him. Maybe he should be called the Extraordinary. @HawthornFC
— Adrian (@AAhawka) July 10, 2017
Congratulations to Luke Hodge @HawthornFC on his upcoming retirement at the end of the 2017 @AFL season. A great advocate for Tas. #politas pic.twitter.com/il7hVZrmlx
— Will Hodgman MP (@WillHodgman) July 10, 2017
Oh wow how he will be missed. What a great player to watch and cheer for. Thanks for giving us Hawks fans so many fun memories. #whatastar https://t.co/vEfm0uWhIP
— Tamsyn Lewis Manou (@tamsynlewis) July 10, 2017
I don't want to jump to conclusions, but clearly the @LHodge15 announcement is that he'll be captaining the Aus Cricket Team. @HawthornFC pic.twitter.com/HO7qZvJNqp
— Regan Phelps (@Reegs79) July 10, 2017
If my wife left me and shacked up with @LHodge15 I'd be perfectly ok with that. #hodgey300 #legend
— Nick Baker (@Baker17N) July 10, 2017
"A footballer's footballer. Just a champion. He never shirked those big games or big moments."
— RSN Breakfast Club (@RSNBreakfast) July 10, 2017
Jimmy Bartel on Luke Hodge
