When Chris Fagan was trying to convince Luke Hodge to come out of retirement to help him develop his young list, there was one name that didn't really resonate with the veteran.
Fagan was excited about a gangly teenager called Hugh McCluggage that he'd picked up with the third pick in the 2016 draft but triple-premiership winner Hodge couldn't understand the coach's excitement.
Now in his second season with the Lions, Hodge appreciates Fagan's assessment was spot on.
"When I first spoke to Fages about first coming up here he went through a few of the younger guys and he said 'Hugh McCluggage'. I'm like 'who?'," Hodge said.
"He was one of those younger draft picks that got picked up from the country and being in Melbourne you didn't know a lot about him.
"I'll tell you what, I do now.
"What he's turned into in such a short amount of time, the roles he can play, he's got the inside-outside balance ... when I finish playing footy he's one of those players I'll sit back every week and go 'geez, I love watching him play'."
McCluggage has been a key performer in the Lions' better-than-expected 5-3 start to the season.
The 21-year-old is averaging 22 disposals a game in 2019 including a season-high 26 in last Saturday's loss to the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.
He also laid seven tackles in the 16-point loss and Hodge said there's no doubt he's one of several youngsters with leadership potential at the Lions.
"We have eight or 10 guys that have the potential to be captain," Hodge said.
"You put him in the group of eight or 10, if they all stick together, they'll have a really good core group."
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