The star onballer doesn't care when the club re-signs Clarkson - just as long as they do.
"Clarko's done nothing wrong by any of the players here. He's very smart and he loves his footy and it shows on the weekend. They sit down and come up with a good game plan and if we can stick to that, it'll be good for us," Hodge said from Waverley Park on Monday.
"I'm a massive wrap for him - all the players are - so if they sign this week or next week it really doesn't matter as long as he's coaching I don't really care when they sign him."
Club president Jeff Kennett has indicated that no contract negotiations will be entered into until at least the middle of the year and while Hodge has given Clarkson his unequivocal support, the midfielder is also confident that the club will proceed in the most prudent manner.
"If Jeff wants to wait till later it's his call, but if they want to get it over and done with then we've got no fuss about that," he said.
"If the club find that's the best thing - and I think all the players do - so if the club want to do it now then I'd back that, no problems."
