All hail Stephen Cluxton, the evergreen humble hero

Stephen Cluxton has won his game’s ultimate honour on four occasions. This Saturday, he makes his 89th championship appearance, going one ahead of Tomás and Marc Ó Sé, writes John Fogarty.

Hawthorn captain, Luke Hodge, will soon play his last game for the AFL club. Earlier this year, he announced he was leaving. Australia’s International Rules captain in 2015, the 33-year-old is revered in his native country, although the sight of him cynically pushing Paddy McBrearty into a Hill 16 goalpost two years ago, a shove which hospitalised the Donegal man, hasn’t yet left us.

His 300th appearance for The Hawks, earlier this month, prompted a wave of commemoration. The club released a video, entitled ‘For ‘The General, We Stand’, in which supporters, and celebrities such as former Australian cricket captain, Ricky Ponting, literally stood up in respect for his achievement.