Hawthorn and Brisbane are currently battling it out for AFL legend Luke Hodge's son Cooper, who will be eligible for the 2026 National Draft.
Cooper is tied to both clubs as a father-son prospect (Hawthorn) and an Academy candidate (Brisbane).
Recent footage showed Cooper down at Waverley at Hawks training during the school holidays, spending two days at the club his father spent 16 years at, winning four flags and captaining the side (2011-2016).
Cooper can nominate as a Hawthorn father-son selection given his father topped the required 100-game minimum (305 matches).
However, the link to the Lions comes as Luke Hodge relocated his family to Brisbane ahead of the 2018 season, featuring under Chris Fagan for two more years before handing up the boots.
Potential Father Son Cooper Hodge and Next Generation Academy prospect Goy Jiath were both at Hawthorn training today.
This is the second time both have trained at the club after completing a week earlier in the season ๐ค๐
๐ธ@HanskyutMedina #gohawthorn #hawks pic.twitter.com/cNlSu3iPUd
โ Timmy N (@newmo03) July 8, 2025
As a result, Cooper joined the club's junior academy and has been making progress towards following in his father's footsteps in the elite competition.
Speaking on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters, Luke refused to give too much away, instead suggesting that it was a "50-50" between the two powerhouses.
"Yeah, well, they got him down. CJ's brother was out there as well. I think Mark Williams' son was supposed to be out there as well, but he rolled his ankle," Hodge said.
"It was a good day, once again going down there to really convince a young guy to come. They turned on the weather. It was about four degrees down there. I couldn't feel my hands.
"It was a good day ... he (Cooper) went out there and enjoyed the club."
Spotted at Hawthorn training: Cooper Hodge ๐ pic.twitter.com/bYq6R3iyCQ
โ 7AFL (@7AFL) July 8, 2025
"It was another good experience. He went out there and enjoyed the club."
Hodge revealed that former teammate Jarryd Roughead, who is a recruiter at Hawthorn, was housing Cooper during his time in Victoria.
The two-time Norm Smith medallist said it was "fortunate" that his son had the opportunity to spend time in two elite environments.
"I 100 per cent understand (the level of interest in this), but the only thing is he's a 16-year-old kid who has the flexibility or he's been lucky enough to spend two days at Hawthorn," Hodge added.
"But then on the flip side, with the Brisbane Lions academy, he's been lucky enough over the last two years to be able to enjoy and spend time with some of the players and get coached by Grant Brichall and Mitch Hahn and these kinds of guys.
"So he's been very fortunate and he's really loving football at the moment."
Sydney speedster Nick Blakey shared a similar experience, having joined the Swans through their academy, although he was eligible as a North Melbourne father-son following his father, John, playing 224 games for the Kangaroos.
Current Hawks coach and former teammate of Hodge's, Sam Mitchell, weighed in on the speculation of the son-of-a-gun after hosting him at the club for multiple days.
"Unfortunately, he's getting a game in the seniors ... so he had to go back up to Brisbane to make sure he could hold his spot," Mitchell said on Thursday.
"The thing with a guy like Coop is he's still a young man, and because of his dad's fame and accolades, there's a lot more pressure on him.
"The last thing I want to do is add anything to that.
"He's great, he's a really energetic sort of kid. He's quiet, he's a young lad, very respectful. He's going to be a nice talent."
