IT MIGHT seem paradoxical but Hawthorn vice-captain Luke Hodge, the man regarded as one of the best kicks in the AFL, can’t wait to be on the receiving end of a “bullet” from one of his newest team mates this year.
Following a sweltering training session at Dandenong on Friday morning, Hodge spoke in glowing terms of former Port Adelaide star and new Hawk recruit Stuart Dew.
Dew was a controversial selection in some quarters given his age and that he was coming back from a year out of the game.
However Hodge has given the former Port premiership player a big thumbs up, believing he will be a huge asset as his team tries to better its second-week finals exit of 2007.
“To see him out there today, the way he kicks the ball, it’s sensational,” he said.
Hodge, widely considered as one of the competition’s elite ball users, said he was looking forward to being on the end of some of Dew’s handiwork this year.
“I can’t wait for another three more months of him training and then to actually lead out and get one of his bullet passes,” he said.
“Just the way he trains and the way the fellas watch him, it’s just great for us.”
At the club’s AGM president Jeff Kennett spoke of the Hawks’ desire to win two premierships by 2012.
After being knocked out in the second week of the finals by the Kangaroos last year, and with one of the most exciting young lists in the competition, the sky is seemingly the limit for the Hawks.
Hodge, who was promoted to vice-captain at the end of 2007 and will serve as deputy to skipper Sam Mitchell, thinks Dew and the other new Hawks to join the nest will play a significant part in that flag push – and perhaps as early as next year.
“Cyril Rioli, he’s going to be that exciting in the next couple of years,” Hodge said.
“Watching him and Buddy [Franklin] just stroll around the forward line … he’s going to be one to look [out] for.
“We’ve got three or four others, with a few rookies as well, who are all pretty exciting players.”
Hawthorn selected Rioli, Queenslander Brendan Whitecross and Dew in last year’s NAB AFL Draft.
While many draftees take time to develop, Hodge believes Hawk fans might get a chance to see each of the new batch at some stage this year.
“I’d say they all would [have the potential to play], I think,” he said.
“Every one of them, they’re just real smart footballers when they do get the ball. It all depends on how we go this year.”
Some big-name stars were missing from Friday’s session – instead taking part in a session back at
“Our loads have gone up roughly 20 per cent from last year, so the boys are feeling it about now but still enjoying it,” he said.
Among the strongest trainers has been emerging ruckman Max Bailey, on the comeback trail from a serious knee injury.
His return is set to be a huge plus for Hawthorn this year and the competition for places among big men set to be a feature of the Hawks’ pre-season campaign.
“Max was flying last year and then he went down with his knee which was unfortunate for him and the side,” Hodge said.
“His pre-season’s been sensational so far and he actually beat a few of the midfielders in the time trial so, [I’m] just looking forward for him to play.”
LISTEN to the Luke Hodge press conference on HawksRadio
