Luke Hodge will captain the Hawks again in 2016.

Hodge has been re-elected as skipper by teammates and coaches at this week’s preseason camp on the Sunshine Coast.

He inherited the captaincy from current teammate Sam Mitchell at the end of 2010, and has captained the club in more than 100 games.

He sits in sixth place for the most games as Hawthorn captain with 110, behind just Graham Arthur (153 games), Michael Tuck (140), Don Scott (124), Shane Crawford (121) and Leigh Matthews (112).



The 31-year-old said he was thrilled to lead the football club again next season.

“It’s something that I’ve always had a passion for and that I’ve loved doing over the past five years and I’m rapt to be doing it again,” said Hodge.

“I’ve always said I’ll do whatever is best for the football club and I stand by that. We had a vote up here and the players elected me to be captain again. The coaches ticked it off, as did the board and I’m honoured to captain again in 2016.”

The only change to the group from 2015 is the addition of Isaac Smith, who was elected by his teammates to become the sixth member of the group.

A three-time premiership player, Smith was selected by the club in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft as a mature-aged recruit.

He has been part of the club’s emerging leaders program and will join Hodge, Jordan Lewis, Jarryd Roughead, Sam Mitchell and Josh Gibson.