Trent Croad's final act: a bump on broken foot to help Hawks
Luke Hodge reflects on Trent Croad playing through a broken foot in Hawthorn's stunning 2008 Grand Final win over Geelong.
In a new AFL documentary, Hawthorn's Luke Hodge remembers Trent Croad's act of sacrifice during the Hawks' shock 2008 Grand Final victory. Despite a broken foot that would end his career, Croad delivered a bump on Geelong's Joel Selwood in his final moments on field.
Hodge, who played the match with broken ribs, said Croad's last thought was for his teammates. The pair's bond ran deep: Croad had been traded away seven years earlier in a blockbuster deal that brought Hodge to Hawthorn.
Hawthorn won by 26 points in one of the great Grand Final upsets, with Hodge taking the first of his two Norm Smith medals.
- 2008
- Year of Grand Final
- 26 points
- Hawthorn's winning margin
- Lost only one game before the final
- Geelong's season record
- Broken ribs
- Hodge's injuries
Why it mattersIt shows the depth of character in a premiership team, players putting the group ahead of themselves, even in the final seconds of their careers.
AustraliaA new documentary series is exploring Hawthorn's 2008 Grand Final victory and the draft deals that built the team. AFL fans will hear new stories from the players who lived those moments.
