Luke Hodge's Left-Field Choice To Start A Team From Scratch

Luke Hodge says, if he had to pick one player in the competition to start a brand new AFL side, he would take GWS co-captain Callan Ward.

The Friday Huddle guest Shane Warne threw the boys a question without notice.

"If you had a new AFL team, you're the coach of a new AFL team and you’re allowed one player from any side, who’s the first player that you would pick?" he asked.

Hodge was hit up first, and he went for Ward, saying he will build the right culture for a successful side.

"As far as you want to set your culture, someone who’s going to teach the young guys how to go about it, how to go hard at the footy, (to) get up (and) play good honest hard football to build a team around," he said.

"He’d be the first person I’d put down."

Everyone's pick:

Luke Hodge: Callan Ward

“I know you guys are going to go the big names, (but) I would go Callan Ward. Just the fact that he’s not the prettiest player, but as far as you want to set your culture, someone who’s going to teach the young guys how to go about it, how to go hard at the footy, (to) get up (and) play good honest hard football to build a team around, he’d be the first person I’d put down."

Chris Judd: Tom Lynch

“He’s been captaining a pretty hard ship up there, which looks like it will turn around. But I think he’s a superstar, ripping young bloke, he’s competitive, he’s hard. That’s who I’d be going for.

Nathan Brown: Joe Daniher

“I don’t think there’s any (more) exciting player in the comp at the moment. He leads from the front, he’s exciting, he gets a bit over the top at times. (He) needs to work on his kicking, but I tell you what, he’s going to dominate this game for 10 years.

Luke Darcy: Marcus Bontempelli

“I think we forget pretty quickly, last year a man named Marcus Bontempelli won the best and fairest in a premiership year. He’s still 22 years of age. Outstanding person in every sense of the word. You wouldn’t go far past picking the Bont to start your side."