Luke Hodge has come out of retirement to play for Brisbane and is said to be in the best shape he has been in for six years.
The Hawthorn legend and former captain retired from the game at the end of last season but was offered a two-year deal to join the Lions to help develop their young list.
Hodge announced in the offseason that he was retracing his retirement to go to Brisbane to act as an on-field coach.
Lions CEO Greg Swann told SEN Breakfast that Hodge has exceeded all their expectations and is in great shape.
“We signed him for two years and (playing 13 games) is sort of what we thought he’d do, but now that he’s here, Chris Fagan thinks he’s the fittest he’s been in six or seven years, his skinfolds are way down and he’s keen to play,” Swann said.
“He hasn’t missed a session and he’s been that on-field coach that we got him for.
“In his own mind he wants to play every week.”
Brisbane’s first match of the 2018 season will be against St Kilda next Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
