FORMER Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge told his teammates he defied the standards he helped set at the club and he supports the leadership group handing him a one-game suspension. 

Hodge, who led the Hawks to flags in 2013-15, missed a training session on Monday and did not tell the people he needed to that he would not be attending. 

The leadership group, of which Hodge is a member of, responded by forcing the 32-year-old to miss the round one clash against Essendon. 

It comes just a couple of months into Jarryd Roughead's ascension to the captaincy. 

Adam Yze, who will coach the side against Port Adelaide in the JLT Community Series on Sunday, told reporters at Melbourne airport on Saturday all players were treated equally at the Hawks. 

"He spoke to the playing group and echoed the point that the standards were pretty much what he's been driving forever and a day," Yze said. 

"It's a sign of strength, the fact that no matter who it is, if they go outside our culture and our standards, that they'll get dealt with by the leadership group and the club." 

Yze indicated Hodge let someone know he would not be at the Monday session, but not necessarily the right person. 

"It was a small slip-up, he's taken the punishment and he'll be pretty fired up to play well in round two," Yze said. 

"He just didn't communicate to the whole footy department. That lack of communication was the reason why (Hodge was suspended). Just not everyone knew that he wasn't there.

"One phone call probably could have saved him."

Hodge lined up for Box Hill in a VFL practice match against the Northern Blues and Yze was impressed with the premiership skipper's game.

"His performance was really strong and the way that he handled himself down there, the feedback was really good. The fact that he was helping some of our Box Hill younger players was terrific," Yze said.

A tight groin will keep Josh Gibson out of the clash against the Power. 

"He probably could have played. He's played the majority of our first two games anyway so it's just more of a management issue," Yze said. 

"We'll get him cherry ripe for round one."