The AFL captains Luke Hodge is most and least envious of right now

Former Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge has pondered which captain he would most like to be in the race for the 2024 premiership.

The four-time premiership player and two-time Norm Smith Medallist says he is most envious of Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps right now.

The Blues are currently sitting second on the ladder with a strong 12-6 record, guided by their Brownlow Medal-winning leader Cripps.

Hodge picked Cripps due to the impact he's had on the club's overall form in 2024.

“The captain I'd love to be the most is Patrick Cripps,” said Hodge on SEN's Whateley.

“It's not about his personal form, it's the impact he's had on where his team currently is, which is massive.”

Another reason why Cripps was chosen by Hodge as the captain he envies the most is due to the plethora of leaders he has by his side.

“He has a lot of good young leaders around him, like (Jacob) Weitering, who is as good a leader you can get as a vice because he is happy to share the load, talk, and set the standards,” he said.

“You’ve got Sam Walsh too, who is developing and coming through as a leader as well.”

Hodge further revealed that the captain he is least envious of at this point in time is Collingwood captain Darcy Moore due to the Magpies' fall from grace after winning the 2023 flag.

“I would probably go Darcy Moore, because of the fact of the expectation that they had coming in because of what they did,” Hodge said.

After Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership, Hodge spoke of a similar struggle in mindset he and his side faced in their premiership-defending season. 

Having missed the finals the year after the 2008 flag, which is now becoming a reality for Collingwood, Hodge offered some key leadership advice for Moore.

“We just thought it was going to happen, our attention to detail and our attitude wasn’t as disciplined as it was the year before,” Hodge said.

“I would hope that he enforces to all his players that when they come back in November this year that they are fit and primed for a big pre-season, because once you drop away like that, it’s hard to get back.”

Cripps and his Blues face Port Adelaide on Friday night at Marvel Stadium to open Round 20 as they attempt to remain in second position.

Moore and his Pies will be desperate to get back on the winners' list after four straight losses when they face the Tigers on Sunday afternoon.