No-one would have complained if Jordan Lewis or Sam Mitchell has claimed the Norm Smith Medal as the best man on the ground in Hawthorn’s 63-point demolition job on Sydney in Saturday’s AFL grand final.
Lewis had a game-high 37 possessions while Mitchell had nine tackles – three more than anyone else on the ground – to go with his 33 disposals.
But equally, no-one at all was grumbling when the honour went to the Hawks’ captain fantastic Luke Hodge.
Playing his 250th game, Hodge became only the third multiple Norm Smith medallist, joining another Hawthorn legend Gary Ayres and Adelaide maestro Andrew McLeod, who went back-to-back in 1997 and 1998.
As ever with Hodge, the stats sheet only told part of the tale – although 35 disposals, 12 marks, four tackles and a goal made for pretty impressive reading.
He even found time to give former teammate Lance Franklin a playful peck on the cheek when the match was well in Hawthorn’s keeping.
“At the moment, it’s a lot of joy,” said Hodge, who seamlessly replaced Mitchell as skipper four years ago.
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“It’s a lot of hard work we’ve gone through.
“Obviously we went through a lot of things we haven’t been through – I’ve never had a coach who hasn’t coached for five weeks (when Alastair Clarkson was hospitalised midway through the season with Guillain-Barre Syndrome).
“But what I found out from our group this year is that when things go against us, how many people are willing to step up.
“Coaches and players – a lot of people stepped up.”
Stepping up – it’s pretty much Hodge’s calling card, a fact noted by Clarkson.
“I’d love to give him a man-cuddle,” said the three-time premiership coach.
“He’s been a special contributor to our footy club.
“It’s a special day for him, he’s a Norm Smith Medallist for the second time in his 250th game.
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“But I’m probably better off giving him that cuddle in private rather than in front of you.”
Hodge earned 10 of a maximum 15 votes from the five judges to edge out Lewis and Mitchell by a single vote in the closest three-way contest in Norm Smith history.
NORM SMITH MEDAL VOTING
10: Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
9: Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)
and Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
1: Will Langford (Hawthorn)
and Josh Gibson (Hawthorn)
MULTIPLE NORM SMITH MEDALLISTS
Gary Ayres (Hawthorn) 1986 and 1988
Andrew McLeod (Adelaide) 1997 and 1998
Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) 2008 and 2014
