HALF BACK one minute, in the midfield the next, Hawthorn Captain Luke Hodge expects to play in a variety of roles against Sydney at the MCG on Saturday night because that’s the way his coach likes to play.

Hodge knows his coach, Alastair Clarkson better than most and understands why he is used in a variety of different positions each week – because ‘Clarko’ loves the flexibility.

Since returning to the side from injury in Round 2, the Hawthorn captain has found himself thrown into a variety of roles, even spending time at full forward alongside star forward, Lance Franklin.

Last weekend against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, Hodge started in the centre circle before spending time patrolling half back and even floating forward where he kicked a goal in the opening term.

You get the sense Hodge is the type of player Clarkson loves not only because he is courageous, selfless, committed and the Club’s inspirational leader, but also because he can be cast in a variety of different roles from minute to minute, and week to week.

Hodge is one of a number of players at Clarkson’s disposal with the ability to play in a different role each week, with Jarryd Roughead, David Hale, Cyril Rioli and Luke Breust to name a few.

All four of those players are hallmark names when considering Hawthorn’s forward line, but two can play in the ruck and the other two capable of being damaging in the midfield.

Hodge says his coach loves being able to mix and match his team on game day and during the week, particularly in the midfield.

“With the amount of blokes we have floating through the middle, he (Clarkson) loves players with versatility and we’ve probably got eight or nine blokes that can play in a range of different positions,” Hodge told hawthornfc.com.au

Hodge expects to spend time in the midfield on Saturday night, but knows he’ll get different instructions throughout the match.

“I’ll probably have a stint through the middle and I was lucky enough to push down forward as well last week,” he said.

“(But) the way ‘Clarko’ loves coaching – he is always changing a group of players into different positions so I expect that.”

Another player who has the ability to be cast in a variety of role is defender, Grant Birchall.

The rangy Tasmanian has been one of Hawthorn’s best this season, and would arguably have been leading its best and fairest after four rounds after averaging over 30 disposals per game off half back.

Such was his hot start to the season that Birchall has been tagged by defensive forwards the past two weeks – first it was Leigh Adams for North Melbourne then, it was Sam Kerridge for the Crows last Saturday.

Birchall gathered 12 disposals and 17 disposals in those games respectively.

Hodge says despite the close attention Birchall has been receiving, the defender has still been fulfilling his role and contributing to Hawthorn’s five-game winning streak.

He says one of the benefits of Birchall’s close attention is that other players can step up.

“He’s had a great start to the year,” Hodge said of his teammate.

“One good thing is, if Birch is getting tagged, it’s freeing up someone else to play their role.

“He’s been sat on the last two games and he’s played a good team role and done all the things we’ve expected of him and we expect nothing less.”