An AFL premiership medal, a Norm Smith medal, an All-Australian jumper, vice-captaincy and a new baby boy.
Sounds like the lifelong wish-list of an aspiring youngster looking to carve out a career in football.
Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge achieved all those things in less than six months.
No wonder he rates 2008 as the best year of his life.
The former Colac prodigy received a hero’s welcome when he returned home this week, with more than 100 fans flocking to a “low-key” civic reception at Colac Toyota.
Hodge was genuinely touched by the number of supporters that turned out to congratulate him on his amazing journey that started with the birth of his first son Cooper in August. 
“It was good, I haven’t had a chance to see all the Hawks supporters down here since we won, it’s good to come back and have a few photos and have a few laughs with them,” Hodge said.
“The amount of texts you got after the game from Hawks supporters and friends that do live in Colac was just amazing and it’s good to see the Hawkers are going well in Colac.”
Hodge received hugs, kisses, hand shakes, let youngsters pose in photos with his prized medals and signed just about everything imaginable.

For the full story, see the current edition of The Colac Herald.

MEDALS: Colac Hawthorn footballer Luke Hodge proudly displays his Norm Smith and AFL premiership medals.