Clarkson confirms new AFL for Mitchell

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson confirms that Sam Mitchell will keep playing and also expects Luke Hodge to do the same

Sam Mitchell will play for Hawthorn next year and captain Luke Hodge is also set to extend his AFL career.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson confirmed on Wednesday night that Mitchell and the club had agreed to a one-year contract extension.

"He'll play another year for us," Clarkson told Channel Nine's Footy Show.

Mitchell, Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne and Josh Gibson are all over 30 and remain key Hawks players.

Hodge has only played four games this season because of injuries and is undergoing an extended spell of training to prepare him for the run to the finals.

Asked if his skipper would also continue playing next year, Clarkson said "I'd be very surprised if he didn't."

Hodge is renowned for his toughness and Clarkson is not looking forward to the day when he has to tell the star that his time as an AFL player is up.

"I don't want to be the bloke who retires him - I don't know what he'd do to me," Clarkson said.

It is unclear whether Hodge will return from injury for Sunday's game against Gold Coast in Launceston.


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Source: AAP


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