Clarko defends Hawks AFL ban for Hodge

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has defended the Hawks' decision to ban Luke Hodge for a club indiscretion but not for a drink driving offence.

Luke Hodge of the Hawks

Hawthorn has defended its banning of Luke Hodge for a club indiscretion but not for drink driving. (AAP)

Break the law, play next week. Break the Hawthorn code - you're out of the team.

That's the apparent inconsistency in the Hawks' treatment of two indiscretions committed by former skipper Luke Hodge.

The four-time premiership star was fined $5000 by the club but still played in a qualifying final in 2015 a week after he blew .068 in a drink-driving offence.

He was also fined $450 and docked 10 demerit points by police.

But the 32-year-old was last week suspended for one match for the seemingly minor indiscretion of failing to communicate properly his intention to miss a training session.

That is - failing to make a phone call.

Hodge will miss the round-one clash against Essendon and coach Alastair Clarkson defended his leadership group's decision.

"One's been treated by the law and one has been treated by our footy club," coach Alastair Clarkson told SEN Radio on Tuesday.

"The one treated by the law is no different to ... anyone else having a drink.

"He didn't actually do anything, he's allowed to have a drink, he wasn't playing at the time.

"In terms of all the protocols we have at our footy club, he didn't go outside them except in regards to the law, and the law said that he tipped slightly over the edge in terms of having that drink.

"But that's no different to ... anyone else.

"In terms of compliance of what we have established at our footy club, he didn't step outside that.

"With this one he did."

Hodge took responsibility for failing to meet expected standards and also backed the leadership group - led by good friend and new skipper Jarryd Roughead - in deciding to ban him.

Clarkson was out of the country at the time of the incident but said he was ket across the greater part of the issue.

"We've got some protocols that are a little bit different from the old school protocols where the coach has the heavy hand with everything that goes on in the footy club," he said.

"Our leadership group has dealt with these things for the last eight or 10 years. They're the ones that are best suited to make decision that are around violations to our trademarks that are reasonably minor."


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Source: AAP


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