Sam Mitchell best summed up Luke Hodge's leadership when recalling their captaincy handover after the 2010 campaign, a move which would soon spark a run of three straight premierships.
"Hodgey's great strength is his on-field leadership. There's probably been no one better in the league for a generation in terms of on-field leadership," he said in Michael Gordon's Playing to Win.
Luke Hodge's freakish grand final goal
Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge kicks a contender for best goal of the 2015 grand final.
And who could question that? When it comes to having an on-field presence, whether that be a physical or mental hold on opponents, while also calmly directing teammates into position in the heat of battle, few have done it better.
Put simply, Hodge will be remembered as one of the great captains, not only at Hawthorn but in VFL-AFL history, joining the likes of Leigh Matthews, Stephen Kernahan, Nick Riewoldt, Wayne Carey, James Hird and Michael Voss.
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Former Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold, also a central figure in three glorious years of domination from 2013-15, told Fairfax Media on Friday he had never seen a tougher player.
"He is, obviously, a great player, two Norm Smiths, best and fairests ... but I think his real strength is as a leader on and off the field," he said.
"His ability to read the game and understand the game is almost unparalleled in my view. He is the toughest player I ever saw."
Hodge, 32, officially stepped down from the top role on Friday, having led his team in 125 matches, including 17 finals and those three premierships. One of those flags – the 2014 version against Sydney – also came with the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground, adding to his 2008 individual honour.
Fortunately for the Hawks, at a time when they are adjusting to an orbit no longer featuring Mitchell and Jordan Lewis, the toughness Newbold mentioned will remain for Hodge is playing on, and remains a part of the leadership group.
His successor, Jarryd Roughead, says Hodge will continue to be a central figure and perhaps even enjoy more the final years of his grand career.
"Hodgey gets to sit back and help us out and, hopefully, enjoy his last couple of years of footy. He has said it in front of you guys (media), that he wanted to do that. This is perfect timing," Roughead said.
"If you ask what he will be remembered as – he has taken us to four (grand finals), a prelim, six finals series, three premierships – I reckon he goes down as one of the better captains of the Hawthorn footy club and, arguably, in the league as well."
All going well, the accolades will continue for Hodge this season for he needs only 14 matches to become the eighth Hawk to 300 senior games, and could even pass Kelvin Moore (300), Don Scott (302), Chris Langford (303), Shane Crawford (305) and Sam Mitchell (307) this season, leaving only Leigh Matthews (332) and Michael Tuck (426) ahead of him.
Roughead insists he will do things his own way in terms of leadership but there is something he surely would be more than happy to follow Hodge and his predecessor Mitchell in doing.
"Playing in premierships is the big goal, being part of a team, but if I can lead a team to a premiership, that, obviously, would be great as well," he said.
"We have been through a fair change this last four, five, six months with this footy group. It's going to be important we stick together and look forward to playing on the weekends."
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