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PREFERENCE OF FATHER-SON GUN SPLIT BETWEEN TWO POWERS<\/p>\n
Brisbane is believed to be the favourite for Cooper Hodge, the son of Hawthorn great Luke, who can choose to nominate for either the Lions or the Hawks.<\/p>\n
Hodge is eligible for the 2026 draft and has spent his teenage years in Brisbane, due to his dad\u2019s late-career move to the Lions.<\/p>\n
That has made him eligible for the Lions Academy, as well as being eligible as a Hawthorn father-son due to Luke\u2019s 305 famous games for the club.<\/p>\n
Hodge does not need to make a decision until later this year but the Hawks recently made their pitch, according to the Herald Sun\u2019s Jon Ralph, who forecast the Lions as ahead in the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo how does Cooper Hodge not become a Hawthorn superstar?\u201d Ralph asked on Fox Footy\u2019s Midweek Tackle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reckon there\u2019s a real good chance of it right now. Hawthorn sat in the living room with his parents and they\u2019ve said there\u2019s absolutely no pressure on him to choose the Hawthorn Football Club. He\u2019s a father-son there, of course an Academy member of Brisbane.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think if you made an educated guess right now, he\u2019s playing for the Brisbane academy, he\u2019s happy at home, the Lions would have their nose in front.<\/p>\n
Lewis raises alarm on Carlton’s list | 02:24<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what Hawthorn have said is the only thing we care about is getting you drafted, and then you can make a decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so their view is even if you choose Brisbane, you will always have a place in our hearts because your dad is the four-time premiership champion and three-time premiership captain. If he picks the Lions, the door will be always open to always love him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think to myself; Jason McCartney\u2019s son (Aiden), he\u2019s got multiple clubs to choose from (also tied to Swans Academy), it might not be the Roos.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you scrap the father-son … I reckon in three or four years we wouldn\u2019t care. I just think it\u2019s an extraordinary compromise to the draft.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke said earlier this year Cooper\u2019s first priority is proving he\u2019s a draftable player.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople 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, playing a role,\u201d Hodge told The Age.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as the decision, it is up to the clubs. There are pros and cons about staying, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cooper Hodge’s decision on picking Brisbane or Hawthorn is yet to be made, while struggling clubs will get help via a new formula.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
SECRET AFL FORMULA TO HELP STRUGGLERS<\/p>\n
The AFL is set to create a statistical model which will help it make decisions on whether bad teams need assistance packages.<\/p>\n