Luke Hodge could walk away from the 2019 AFL season, his final in the AFL, feeling rewarded but also slightly unfulfilled.

The four-time premiership player who came to the Club two years ago with a goal of mentoring a young playing group found himself in an unexpected position come September, hosting two home finals with a chance of playing on the final Saturday in September for the sixth time.

Even though that didn’t eventuate, Hodge will no doubt look back on his two years in Brisbane as a success, helping the Club rise from last in 2017, to second on the ladder at the end of the home and away season just 24 months later.

He had another strong season on the field, playing 22 games and finishing 11^th in the Merrett-Murray Medal count. Playing arguably his best game of the season when it mattered most, in the Qualifying Final loss to Richmond, he finished with 27 disposals and nine marks, showing he still knew how to rise to the biggest of occasions.

In a season that saw plenty of highs, the end of Hodge’s career came quick to Lions fans as only minutes after the Semi Final loss to GWS, Senior Coach Chris Fagan announced Hodge had retired.

“Hodgey’s finished, as a player,” Fagan said in the post-match press conference.

“I wanted him to come tonight (to the press conference), but that’s not his way, he just wants to walk away quietly.

“We talked about it after the game I sort of knew, but never sort of directly asked him the question, so I just said, is that it? And he goes, yep, that’s it. So, that’s it.”

He wasn’t chaired off the field nor given a farewell game, but Lions fans know what he has done for the Club in a relatively short period of time.

His impact didn’t result in finals victories in 2019, but it will be seen by Lions fans for years to come. In the calm demeanour of backline stalwarts Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner, the attitude of younger players such as Alex Witherden and Jarrod Berry as well as more experienced players such as Lachie Neale, who said it was a dream of his to play alongside Hodge.

Fagan was glowing in his praise of Hodge’s leadership with the next group of up and coming Lions.

“He’s worked so hard with the leadership group and the younger guys – Harris Andrews, Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Alex Witherden – all those guys, you can see they’ve grown over the last few years.” Fagan said.

“I reckon they’re miles ahead of where most second, third, fourth-year players are in terms of their leadership development. It’s not just Hodgey on its own, but it’s helped enormously.”

Hodge finishes a remarkable career as a two-time Norm Smith Medal winner and four-time premiership player having played the 17^th most games in VFL/AFL history. He also finishes with one other very satisfying stat, he never lost to Hawthorn.