True story emerges behind Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis's absence from three-peat function
Hawthorn's premiership heroes from 2013-15 celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the club's famous threepeat on Friday night, but the absentee of some high-profile greats caught the attention of devoted fans.
Among those who missed the event were master coach Alastair Clarkson and 2015 Norm Smith Medal winner Cyril Rioli, with the much-loved Rioli still in a sad cold war with his former club.
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Former superstar and four-time premiership hero Jordan Lewis did not attend the event at Melbourne Town Hall, either, due to his commentary commitments ... and fans were quick to point the finger.
Fans raged on social media about Lewis's absence, gobsmacked that he wasn't given the night off by broadcaster Fox Footy.
But former captain and Channel 7 star Luke Hodge has now explained exactly what happened.
'It was a great celebration,' Hodge said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters.
'It was the three-peat so for all three years. It wasn't just the 2015 flag. We missed 14, because obviously we had a fair bit going on last year, so it was good way to celebrate, and majority of the guys got along which was great to see and, I guess, reminisce and talk about what we were able to (achieve).'
Hodge was pressed on the absence of Lewis, which he revealed was simply because of an innocent mix-up.
'He got his dates mixed up,' Hodge said on The Agenda Setters.
'We threw around a couple of different dates. So he put in for a date to take it off from work on a Friday night, but then the dates were changed.'
Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson also said it was disappointing' Clarkson wasn't there.
'We wanted everyone to get along,' Hodge said.
'But obviously people had prior engagements. Clarko had to coach the following day. Lewie had to work. There's a few other guys that had prior engagements as well.
'So no doubt, when we do it again, we're going to try and make it a little bit more of a player catch-up every year from now on. So hopefully they'll get along to do the next year or in the years after.'
Hodge said earlier this year that Rioli was not 'comfortable' with the idea of returning to the football club 'just yet'.
'There's been a number of guys that have reached out to Cyril. And we left on really good terms,' he said previously.
'When he retired he sent me a message saying 'thanks for all the development and help'. I've had no issues with Cyril ever, but it's almost like he's parted ways with everyone there.'
Hodge caught up with Rioli in Round 10 this year when Gold Coast played Hawthorn in Darwin.
'I haven't seen him since about 2018. I saw (Gold Coast CEO) Mark Evans talking to him so I just wanted to go across and say g'day.
'It was just good, he was looking great, he had a smile on his face, he said his cousin (Daniel) was flying out there and has made a real difference to the Gold Coast Suns.
'It was great to see him.'
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