The Hawks earned the break over semi-final weekend after its bruising win over Collingwood in the qualifying final, while its now confirmed preliminary final opponent, Adelaide defeated Fremantle at AAMI Stadium.
Hodge admits, however, that it was exactly a weekend off as far as the Hawks are concerned.
“We’ve prepared last week as if we were going to play,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“You can’t afford to take a session, let alone a weekend off at this time of year because the other team is going to be fighting tooth and nail to get through.
“You want to make sure you’re prepared.”
And prepare they did, as Coach Alastair Clarkson and his fitness gurus put the players through a grueling 90minute session on Friday.
Hodge says it was a session designed to emulate the pressure and physicality of a final.
“It wasn’t just a few kicks around here and there, it was an hour and a half session of competitive stuff, tackling stuff, just so you still get pinch hits of what you would in a game,” he said.
“We had a huge focus on our training last week, we haven’t really wanted to drop away.”
The 28-year-old has now played seven successive matches, and is finally experiencing continuity in his football after an injury interrupted season.
Since returning, Hodge has showed he is as versatile as ever, playing in a variety of positions, including at full forward.
It is something he says, that is part of the 2012 Hawthorn model, just playing your role for the team.
“We all know as individuals, that we don’t have to go and get best on ground, we just have to play our role,” he said.
“I’m going out there just to do the same as the other guys.
“If that’s playing a little bit in the middle or a little bit down back then so be it.
“As long as everyone plays their role, then that’ll hold us in good stead.”
On a personal level, the Hawks skipper says his body is feeling as good as it has all season.
“It’s been feeling really good the last six or seven games,” he said.
“It’s feeling as good as it has all year.”
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