MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 17: Luke Hodge of the Hawks looks on during the 2016 AFL Captains Day at Etihad Stadium on March 17, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. ((Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Hawthorn veteran Luke Hodge believes the punishment for showing up late to a training session during the pre-season was a bit tough.
Hodge missed a Monday training session the day after hosting a birthday party for his brother, but was suspended by the leadership group for the opening round of the season.
He didn't inform the club of his absence until it was too late, and therefore was suspended for "failing to meet club standards."
"It was actually one of the well-behaved 21sts, we kicked everyone out at 9 o'clock because it was lights out, we cleaned everything up and that was the end of that. There was not alcohol (involved)," Hodge told The Footy Show.
"There was a few things that happened the next morning, which I felt I needed to stay at home and attend to, which if I had of informed the club a little bit earlier than what I did it would have been okay.
"I think that's the biggest part of it, where I've let (the team) down.
"With football clubs ... if your communication is spot on straight away there are no problems. Whereas I was a few hours behind in letting them know what I was doing and that is what my punishment is for."
New captain Jarryd Roughead was the catalyst behind the suspension, and while Hodge didn't necessarily agree with it at first, he was able to see their point of view.
"My initial response was I thought it was a bit tough but it saying that I've been in their position," he said.
"We've lost two very influential people in our footy club in (Sam) Mitchell and (Jordan Lewis) 'Lewey' and I guess people are waiting for Hawthorn to go down.
"This is a new leadership group who needed to make a stand for any young bloke who's walked into the club and any people who are going to walk into the club in the future, that they're not going to take anything.
"The simple thing of communication, it's such an easy thing to do and I let the team down and the players down in that situation.
"It's a clear stance from Roughy and the leaders of what they're going to take while they're leading the club."
Hodge didn't disclose the exact reason for missing training on The Footy Show, but did admit that if he was in the same situation again he would make the same decisions, except for one.
"They were personal enough for me to think I should not go to training and I won't reveal them," Hodge said.
"If I was in that situation again I'd make 100 per cent the same decision but I would inform the club earlier."