This is the official autobiography of one of the AFL's most respected and celebrated players, and one of the greatest leaders the sport has ever seen. Football books don't come much bigger than this.
‘When the Hawks devoted the first choice in the 2001 NAB AFL National Draft to Luke Hodge, they got not just a great player but a great leader, too.’ Leigh Matthews
Known as ‘The General’ for his exceptional leadership on and off the field, Luke Hodge is the four-time Premiership player and three-time Premiership captain of arguably the greatest football team of the modern era. With two Norm Smith Medals, All-Australian captaincy and two best and fairest awards to his name, Hodge is one of the most celebrated modern footballers, but all that is just part of the inspiring journey of this Hawthorn champion.
From growing up in country Victoria and being bullied at school to the pressure of being the number-one draft pick, the rise of Luke Hodge to the title of the most respected warrior in the game is nothing short of extraordinary. In this revealing autobiography, Hodge explains his own transformation and that of his mighty football club, giving unique insight into the incredibly successful era he has been part of under renowned coach Alastair Clarkson.
After showing prodigious talent in his youth, Luke Hodge earned All-Australian selection at U15 and U16 national championships, later receiving an AFL/AIS Academy scholarship. He was taken as the top pick in the 2001 AFL draft and made his season debut playing for the Hawthorn Football Club against Richmond in April 2002, winning the club’s Best First Year Player Award and an AFL Rising Star nomination in that year. In 2011 he was made captain of Hawthorn, a position he held until 2016, after winning three ‘back-to-back-to-back’ Grand Finals in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He is a four-time premiership player, two-time Peter Crimmins Medallist, two-time Norm Smith Medallist and three-time All-Australian, who has also played in International Rules teams for Australia. An uncompromising leader on and off the field, Luke Hodge is regarded as one of the AFL’s toughest players and a seasoned finals specialist. He is married to wife Lauren and has three sons, Cooper, Chase and Leo.
