MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - OCTOBER 04: Luke Hodge the captian of the Hawks poses with the 2013, 2014 and 2015 premiership trophies during the Hawthorn Hawks AFL Grand Final fan day at Glenferrie Oval on October 4, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge has announced he will retire at season's end in a press conference ahead of his 300th game for the club this weekend.

Hodge will line-up against Geelong for the 26th time in his career, and it's only fitting his milestone match is against the side Hawthorn beat for his first premiership back in 2008.

After being selected by the Hawks with the first pick in the 2001 National Draft, Hodge has gone on to have a stellar 16-year career in the brown and gold.

“The decision to finish my playing career at the end of the season is something I’ve thought long and hard about. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I believe it is the right decision for both the club and I,” Hodge told hawthornfc.com.au.

“I’m still passionate about footy and I still love running out with the boys each week, but I’m really looking forward to spending more time with my family, and given where the club is at, I know there are several guys knocking down the door and I’m more than happy to step aside for them.

“I would like to thank everyone at Hawthorn Football Club for embracing my family and I over the past 16 years. This place has become like family and I’ll leave here with friendships and memories that will last forever.

“To the fans and members, thankyou for your continued support, it has been an honour to play in front of the brown and gold army every week and I look forward to the next seven weeks and seeing where our 2017 campaign can take us.

“I’d like to make special mention of the team at Connors Sport Management, in particular Paul and Mel, for all the support they have given to my family and I since I joined them as a seventeen year-old.

“Lastly, thank you to my wife Lauren, my three beautiful sons Cooper, Chase and Leo, and all my family and friends, without your support and sacrifice none of this would have been possible.”

The 33-year-old is a four-time premiership player and is also just the third player in history to have won two Norm Smith Medals.

Hodge was named in the All-Australian side in 2005, 2008 and 2010, and also captained the Hawks to three flags between 2011-2016, before handing over the reigns to Jarryd Roughead at the end of last season.

Over his long, decorated career, Hodge averaged 22.5 disposals per game, 4.9 marks, 3.2 clearances, 3.5 inside 50s and 3.5 tackles.