JUST one week after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured thumb, Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge made a remarkable recovery to be best on ground just one week later – in Friday night’s 35-point win over Collingwood.
Many doubted Hodge’s ability to return so soon after having reparative surgery and to in essence, play with a fractured thumb, but the courageous skipper once again showed why he’s one of the most respected players in the AFL.
Hodge was clearly the dominant player on the ground in Friday night’s win, playing his usual role across half back both as a defender and as an attacking weapon to rebound forward.
The Hawks captain rotated on Collingwood forwards Quinten Lynch and Ben Reid and was able to exploit them on the attack, by making himself a dangerous option off half back, gathering a team-high 28 disposals.
His role though also allowed fellow defender Josh Gibson to roll off Reid and become the loose man in defence at times, when Collingwood had the ball at half forward and were looking to deliver long to Travis Cloke.
On many occasions, Gibson was able to effectively come over the top of Cloke and help defensive teammate Brian Lake to spoil the ball and limit Cloke’s influence.
For that, both Hodge and Gibson polled the highest number of votes from coaches Alastair Clarkson and Nathan Buckley in the AFLCA Champion Player of the year award, with Hodge awarded the maximum 10 votes and Gibson seven.
Star Collingwood midfielder Dane Swan was the only Magpie to poll, and was in fact judged the third-best player on the ground behind Hodge and Gibson with six votes.
Swan gathered a game-high 35 disposals, had eight clearances and six inside 50s in his team’s loss.
In his first game back from an eight-week stint on the sidelines with a knee injury, Grant Birchall also made what many would label a remarkable comeback, gathering 26 disposals off half back.
Birchall was one of the most influential players on the ground, particularly in the first half with his run and carry proving damaging as he time and time again ominously launched the Hawks inside forward 50.
His 26 disposals also came at 85 per cent efficiency.
Brendan Whitecross played his best game since returning from a knee reconstruction earlier this year.
Whitecross played spent time on two of Collingwood’s best rebound defenders – captain Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw and nullified their influence.
Maxwell (10 disposals) and Shaw (nine) had no impact on the game, while Whitecross made them accountable defensively by providing a lead-up target inside forward 50 and across half forward.
He finished with 17 disposals, eight marks and two goals. He received three votes from the coaches for his performance.
Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli also each polled one vote each.
Franklin booted four goals and gathered 20 disposals while Rioli set the Hawks alight in the second term with two electric runs to set up goals.
He finished with 12 touches, a goal and two score assists.
Hawthorn v Collingwood
10 Hodge (Haw)
7 Gibson (Haw)
6 Swan (Coll)
3 Birchall (Haw)
2 Whitecross (Haw)
1 Franklin (Haw)
1 Rioli (Haw)
Round 21 Leaderboard
90 Kieren Jack (Syd)
88 Joel Selwood (Geel)
85 Gary Ablett (GC)
79 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
78 Ryan Griffen (WB)
71 Dane Swan (Coll)
70 Daniel Hannebery (Syd)
65 Travis Boak (Port )
64 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
63 Nathan Fyfe (Fre)
