The knee injury that Hawthorn’s captain Luke Hodge sustained in Round six continues to keep him sidelined as the Hawks prepare to face the Blues this weekend without him. Hodge has only added two games to his career total this season having missed the first four rounds recovering from a calf injury. Despite participating in training on Monday, Hodge’s return date is yet to be confirmed.
When Hodge does make his return, he is known for the ease with which he adjusts back into the line-up. Nonetheless there is speculation that he may not immediately return to the midfield, with his teammate Josh Gibson saying he would love Hodge to join him in defense, providing his strength to the backline. More importantly the Hawks want him, first and foremost, back on the field with them. Following training yesterday, Gibson said Hodge looks eager to play and referred to his captain as a ‘superstar’.