Hodgson named Force's best
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:13
Versatile forward Matt Hodgson has been rewarded for his outstanding 2009 season by winning the Western Force Player of the Year Award.
The award was announced at a Western Force Awards Evening at the Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth.
Hodgson, who signed a two-year contract extension in January that will see him remain with the club until the end of 2011, polled 286 votes to finish ahead of flyhalf Matt Giteau and flank David Pocock. Giteau and Pocock were separated by just three votes for second place.
The ultra-consistent Hodgson played all 13 games during the 2009 Super 14, and was a key part of the formidable backrow contingent alongside Pocock, Richard Brown and Tamaiti Horua.
Hodgson was selected in the Wallabies squad for the 2009 June Tests, and played his first game for the senior national side against the Barbarians.
A shoulder injury suffered in that game ruled him out of the Tests against Italy and France, but he was selected in the squad for the Tri-Nations announced by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans on Thursday.
Teenage Wallaby James O’Connor finished fourth in the count, with NSW-bound wing Drew Mitchell rounding out the top five.
A typically humble Hodgson said it was a happy surprise to be named the franchise's Player of the Year.
"Winning as a team is obviously the goal, but having said that it is rewarding to have your efforts to be recognised by your peers," Hodgson said.
"I was pretty satisfied with my form, but we had some terrific individual performers this year so it was a shock to even be in the mix really.
"I know that all the boys would swap an individual honour for a chance to play finals. Unfortunately we just couldn’t get over the line in some close games this year, which probably cost us a top four berth in the end."
Already looking to the future, Hodgson said that he was excited about the 2010 season for several reasons.
"We have probably under-performed in the past few years," he said.
"Next year we will have a different looking squad, but it will still have class at every position. The club has recruited well, with Andre Pretorius, Matt Dunning, Brett Sheehan, Nic Henderson and Tim Fairbrother all quality players capable of playing at international level.
"Of course, playing at a rectangular venue will be something new for our fans. The crowd makes so much noise at a big stadium like Subiaco Oval; it will be brilliant to have that support in more intimate surrounds."
Hodgson is the fourth different winner of the award, joining Scott Staniforth, Giteau and Ryan Cross in claiming the cfranchise's most prestigious individual prize.
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