FOR THE second week running, Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge polled a perfect 10 votes from the coaches in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award.
Last week, the Hawks Captain polled 10 votes for his 28 disposal effort in the win over Collingwood and this week he backed that up with another brilliant performance across half back.
Hodge finished with 21 disposals, eight marks, three clearances and two inside 50s, but his impact on the game was more profound than the stats sheet suggests.
With Hawthorn seemingly headed for defeat at the hands of the Kangaroos midway through the second term of Saturday’s match at Etihad Stadium, Hodge inspired the Hawthorn turnaround and sparked his team into action in the second half.
He willed himself to impact contests, won clearances and set up rebound opportunities across half back that enabled the Hawks to get the game back on their terms.
His best on ground performance was perhaps best illustrated with his spoil on Drew Petrie in the opening minutes of the third term that resulted in the Hawks sweeping the ball down the field for a goal.
Hodge’s performances in the last two weeks best illustrate why he’s so important to Hawthorn, both structurally and from a leadership perspective.
According to Alastair Clarkson and Brad Scott, Hodge was the best performed Hawk by some margin, with Brian Lake and Jarryd Roughead the next best vote getters with three each.
Between Hodge and his teammates were North Melbourne’s Jack Ziebell (six votes) and Daniel Wells (four).
The Kangaroos pair each gathered 27 disposals and had 13 clearances (Ziebell four, Wells nine) between them.
Lake was again impressive as Hawthorn’s full back, nullifying the influence of Drew Petrie who had little to no impact on the game despite gathering 17 disposals.
The Hawks defender kept him scoreless, while gathering 18 possessions of his own and 10 marks.
Roughead took the outright lead in the Coleman Medal with his four goals on Saturday along with 16 disposals and five marks.
Despite forward partner Lance Franklin booting five goals, Roughead was deemed to be the most dangerous and best performed forward on the day.
Brent Guerra also received two votes for his 22 disposals and Sam Mitchell one for his 27 touches in the win.
North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein also received a vote for his 19 disposals, two goals and 24 hit outs.
North Melbourne v Hawthorn
10 Hodge (Haw)
6 Ziebell (North)
4 Wells (North)
3 Lake (Haw)
3 Roughead (Haw)
2 Guerra (Haw)
1 Goldstein (North)
1 Mitchell (Haw)
Round 22 Leaderboard
92 Joel Selwood (Geel)
90 Kieren Jack (Syd)
87 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
85 Gary Ablett (GC)
78 Ryan Griffen (WB)
77 Dane Swan (Coll)
70 Daniel Hannebery (Syd)
68 Nathan Fyfe (Fre)
65 Travis Boak (Port)
65 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
