A "NERVOUS" Luke Hodge admitted to some butterflies training with his new club for the first time on Monday, but says his switch to the Brisbane Lions has been everything he expected so far.
Hodge joined the full Lions squad at Yeronga on Monday morning, getting through his first session in new colours in cool and overcast conditions.
"I was a bit nervous getting here, but footy clubs are the same," Hodge said.
"As long as you get around most of the guys and have a bit of a chat, you fit in pretty easily."
After 15 seasons, 305 games and four premierships with Hawthorn, the 33-year-old says the fresh start is just what he needed.
Hodge ran hard on day one, so much so that Lions skipper Dayne Beams joked that he wished he was still running that well at the same age.
"The first thing (I noticed) as we walked out on the track was just how energetic the young guys are," Hodge said.
"Where I've come from has been an older group, sometimes you need the young guys to push the vibe of the place and running out there, the atmosphere was great, the excitement of the young guys, being an old fella, is exactly what you need."
The two-time Norm Smith medallist came to Brisbane late last week with his wife and oldest son, and said despite some nerves, he couldn't be happier.
"There was butterflies coming in because it was something different, but there was no concerns or no doubts," he said.
"As soon as I sat down with Fages, Nobes and Swanny, as soon as we made the decision, we knew it was the right call.
"We've had no doubts since we made the decision, we've looked forward to it and everything's been as we expected so far."
Hodge did most of his running with Beams, after the pair met up on Sunday to discuss the coming season.
Hodge said he hoped to play "15 or 16" games in 2018, but would let his body and coach Chris Fagan dictate that.
