Hodge informed his playing group on Tuesday night that he will step down from the coaching role at the end of the season.

Assistant coach and Hodge’s good mate, Daniel Muir, will step into the role.

Hodge was approached by the club earlier in the month about his intentions for next season and he said it was a straight forward decision to make.

“After three years, it’s time for a new voice,” Hodge said.

“The boys probably need a new voice and I’ve probably only got 12 months, two years left of playing so I want to focus on having a kick.”

In positive news for the club, Hodge, 31, has no intention of returning to Tasmania any time soon and will stay on at the Crows as a player.

He believes he will step aside from the role with the club in a strong position and still has high hopes for this year with the Crows in fifth position after eight rounds.

“I think in the three years we have done pretty well and the club’s in a pretty good position,” Hodge said.

“I’m still pretty confident we can make finals this year and as it’s shown over the last few years, once you make it anything can happen.

“I still think we’re within reach of the top sides, it’s just a matter for us of being consistent over four quarters.”

In his two full seasons to date, Hodge has taken Leeton-Whitton to consecutive grand final appearances.

In 2016, they went down by four points to Wagga Tigers at Robertson Oval, before ending a 39-year premiership drought with a six-point win over Collingullie-Glenfield Park last year.

The premiership will always remain a fond memory for Hodge.

“Absolutely, when I was first considering coming back and spoke to a few of the other boys, we all came here for the same reason with the club trying to break the premiership drought,” he said.

“I had a lot of help along the way but to actually be able to achieve that was pretty special for me and to see how much it meant to the town, it was a good feeling.”

Leeton-Whitton football operations manager David Meline paid tribute to Hodge’s efforts over the past two and a half years.

“Jade has done a great job,” Meline said.

“To his credit, he’s made a decision early enough to put us in this position and we’re happy that he’s staying at the club.”

Hodge also fully endorsed Muir as his successor.

“He’ll be a really good coach and it’s exciting for the footy club,” he said.

“It’s a good move for the footy club.”

Hodge first played at Leeton-Whitton in 2008-09 before returning to Tasmania and also playing some football in Western Australia.

He returned to Leeton to take on the coaching job in 2016 and will play his 100^th game for the Crows next season.

The Crows face sixth-placed Turvey Park in an important game at Leeton Showground on Saturday.

READ MORE