Cooper Hodge’s decision on whether to nominate Hawthorn or the Brisbane Lions as either a father-son or academy graduate could become the next flashpoint for the escalating debate about access to top-end talent.
Hodge, the son of four-time Hawthorn premiership player Luke, grew up in Brisbane developing his talent in the Lions academy. He has emerged as a potential draft option in the past 18 months, with both clubs hosting him at training during the off-season.
Cooper Hodge (pictured here with Massimo D’Ambrosio and Jack Gunston) trained at Hawthorn in January but is part of the Lions academy.Credit: AFL Photos
Although not considered a top-20 pick, the possibility that the Lions could have access to the son of a player who played 305 games for the Hawks has caused further alarm that the system has become too favourable to northern academies. The fact Carlton father-son Cody Walker – who nominated the Blues – could also have nominated Richmond as a next-generation academy graduate also upset clubs.
Luke Hodge is a fan of the father-son rule but he says any concerns about his son’s decision are premature as he is yet to establish himself as a definite target of the two clubs he is tied to under the system.
“People say he has got a decision [to make], but it is up to the clubs. First of all, he has got to put himself in a position, so his next three months is important for getting the kick [and] playing a role,” Hodge told this masthead at the Seven Network’s 2026 season launch recently.
“As far as the decision, it is up to the clubs. There are pros and cons about staying [and] pros and cons about going. The thing is, first of all, is to do enough this year to give yourself an opportunity to get drafted.”
Luke Hodge won four premierships at Hawthorn and captained three of those sides.Credit: AFL Photos
The discussion among clubs around Hodge is just one of the numerous issues facing the AFL Commission when they meet to consider the tightening of rules relating to the drafting of players under the father-son, northern, and next-generation academy programs at their March meeting. They are also looking to restrict compensation to clubs when they lose free agents after pick No.10, to give clubs an incentive to retain their best players.
The AFL is expected to make clubs pay more for top-end talent emerging through those programs so they have to give up a player, or a relatively high draft pick, to secure them. In the past few seasons, clubs have used late second- and third-round picks to bring top-five picks in.
Luke Hodge, and Australian Football Hall of Fame member, won two Norm Smith Medals at Hawthorn before playing the final 41 games of his career with the Lions.Credit: AFL Photos
Northern clubs have publicly expressed fear that the heavy investment that has yielded strong results in recent seasons and has pushed the participation rate in Australian rules in Queensland past that of South Australia could be undermined if the restrictions placed on accessing academy talent are too onerous.
They believe the academy system creates more potential AFL players for the draft pool and helps retention and overall support for the game. Academy sponsors are also of the view the AFL Commission should not yield to pressure from Victorian clubs until the momentum now underway is realised.
In an interview with AFL Media during the week, Essendon coach Brad Scott said the Queensland clubs’ ability to get access to both academy and father-son prospects was undermining the draft as an equalisation tool and forcing Victorian clubs to offer big contracts to players.
Most Viewed in Sport
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
