“For the bigger picture…”: Why Hodge believes Bevo will be happy with Darcy’s act of aggression

Hawthorn great Luke Hodge says he loved Sam Darcy’s bump on Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard – even if it will see the Bulldog miss multiple weeks through suspension.

In the midst of what was a hot start from the Magpies on Friday night, Darcy arrived late to a marking contest and flattened Maynard, who required a concussion test to play out the game.

Darcy is looking at a two-week suspension, according to 9News’ and SEN regular Tom Morris, with the MRO likely to judge the incident as careless conduct, high contact and high impact.

While Darcy himself suggested Beveridge gave him a “good little bake” for the incident, Hodge believes the premiership coach will also see the silver lining.

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“I think for the bigger picture… I reckon Luke Beveridge is sitting back saying, 'Yes I would prefer him on the field',” he said on SEN’s Crunch Time.

“But as a coach, I’m sitting there going, 'how good is that'. I’ve got a centre half-forward for the next 10 years who is willing to put his body on the line, crash a contest, where we saw up the other end there wasn’t enough forwards who could compete.

“He dipped the shoulder in, we know how physical this game is… I’ve seen a lot of people try to clean up Maynard without much success.”

Darcy eventually proved the most potent forward on the field, kicking three goals and hauling in five contested marks – both game highs – after the early incident and giving away another 50-metre penalty that handed the Pies a shot on goal.

“Yes he got reported and I’m rapt that Maynard isn’t injured, but I love that from forwards,” Hodge continued.

“Key forwards have to have an aggressive streak in them to turn games, to make contests.

“What we saw from Darcy, the way he was able to fight back… he finished with five contested marks and showed he’s got a massive future for a bloke who has played 18 games of football.”

Round 12 marked Darcy’s third three-goal haul in 2023, while the 20-year-old booted four against Richmond in Round 9.

Maynard passed his concussion test and returned to the field late in the first term, but any suspension Darcy incurs will rule him out of the race for this year’s Rising Star award.

The Bulldogs got their sixth victory of the season on Friday night when saluting by 18 points.