Hodge ready for Cats skipper Ling - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hodge ready for Cats skipper Ling

Greg Buckle 06/06/2011 09:57:20 PM Comments (0)

Hawthorn's inspirational AFL skipper Luke Hodge says he has a personal score to settle with Geelong tagger Cameron Ling on Saturday night.

Hodge says the Cats captain beat him in their personal duel in the most recent meeting between the two teams in round five on April 26, when Geelong triumphed by 19 points.

The Cats go into Saturday's clash at the MCG with a 10-0 win-loss record on top of the ladder.

Third-placed Hawthorn are growing in confidence after improving their record to 8-2 with a come-from-behind victory against Fremantle on Sunday at the MCG.

Hodge, the reigning All-Australian captain, says he has lowered his colours to Ling in their past two clashes.

"He had a good game (in round five)," Hodge said on Monday on Foxtel's On The Couch program.

"I hope he gets me this time because you can always get even."

Hodge's men also need to get square in a team sense, having lost five times to Geelong since the 2008 grand final.

"Geelong have been a great football team so we always try get ourselves up for them. Unfortunately they've been able to pip us the last couple of times," said Hodge, the 2008 Norm Smith medallist.

"I'll be waiting for `Lingy'. I'm looking forward to it."

Hodge was Hawks vice-captain last year under the leadership of rover Sam Mitchell, who is averaging 30 possessions per game this season without the burden of the captaincy.

Mitchell, a two-time club champion and premiership skipper, is yet to win an All-Australian selection and Hodge says it's about time the 28-year-old was given due recognition.

"Sammy, he gets overlooked almost every year," Hodge said.

"There has been three or four years (2007 and 2008) that he has been in the All-Australian squad and harshly (left out) I guess.

"He's someone who you know what you're going to get every week. He's going to be in and under winning the hard ball.

"He has been able to change his game and play across half-forward and half-back.

"He's had a ripping year."

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says he expects Saturday night's clash to draw a crowd of 80,000.

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