Hodge wins Peter Crimmins medal

Sporting News Logo

Luke Hodge has capped off a stellar year, winning the Peter Crimmins medal for Hawthorn's best and fairest as well as assuming the role as captain for 2011 season.

Hodge won the medal for the second time with 167 votes in a ceremony at the Crown Palladium, with Lance Franklin second on 122 votes and last year-s winner Sam Mitchell third with 112.

Having last won the award in 2005, the 26-year-old polled in 18 of his 22 games and was adjudged by his coaches as Hawthorn-s best player in eight of those matches.

The award capped off an outstanding personal season for the midfield general after he was also named captain of the All Australian side.

To make the night even sweeter, Hodge was named captain of the club when outgoing skipper Sam Mitchell handed over the mantle in a speech to start the awards.

Hodge will now relinquish the vice-captaincy, and now assumes the top job after Mitchell, who had captained the Hawks for the last three seasons, decided it was time to pass the baton on.

In accepting the captaincy Hodge recognised the work Mitchell had done in both leading a young group and mentoring himself as a future club captain.

"It is a great honour to be named captain of this proud club," said Hodge.

"Mitch has been a great captain, leading by example, and helped give our young group the leadership and stability we needed over the past three years."

"Sam has been a mentor to me and has helped me develop my leadership skills both on and off the field."

"I know I have his full support in my new role as captain and I am looking forward to leading the club in the 2011 season."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said the appointment of Hodge as captain says a lot about the character of his leaders.

"This is a selfless act by Sam to hand over the baton at a time when he has a whole lot of good footy ahead of him," said Clarkson.

"Both Sam and Luke were neck and neck three years ago for the captaincy when Mitch got the nod. The club had decided that we were only to have one captain - and in a real act of mateship - Hodgey said to Mitch that he wanted Sam to lead."

"So for that to be turned around now, for Sam to pass the baton on, that says a lot about the characters of these two men."

Author(s)