Hodge, 32 next month, has managed only four senior matches this season because of two injuries – a broken arm against Geelong in round one and a lateral meniscus tear in round six against Greater Western Sydney, sidelining him for up to six weeks.

There has been ongoing speculation whether veterans stars Sam Mitchell, 33, Shaun Burgoyne, 33, Josh Gibson, 32, and Hodge can all return in 2017, as the Hawks seek to usher in younger talent while remaining in finals contention and avoiding the dramatic drop the Brisbane Lions endured after they had featured in four-straight grand finals.

Gibson, Mitchell and Burgoyne have all been in fine form this season but Hodge's injury woes have prompted the likes of former Essendon great-turned-commentator Matthew Lloyd to declare he was "the one most vulnerable", prompting Hodge to fire back on Friday.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said on Friday a "collective" call with the two-time best and fairest would be made once the season was done. This would include the medical team, as had been the case with the recent retirements of Brian Lake and David Hale.

Clarkson, though, launched a defence of a man regarded as arguably the finest skipper in the league.

"Outside of missing five games to suspension last year, he would nearly have won our best and fairest. He has had two collision-related injuries in the first part of the year and we have been unable to have him out on the park as often as we would like," Clarkson said.

"He is just recuperating from this knee one where he just landed awkwardly in a marking contest and we are pretty confident he will return strongly, and then his motivation levels and form are going to determine whether he wants to go on, but that is no different for any player that gets to the twilight of their career.

"I think it's a bit premature to be making calls on someone's retirement at this stage."

Clarkson said "our views on our side and our future and also Luke's views, too" would ultimately determine whether he pursued a 16th AFL season.

Hodge told KIIS FM that Lloyd's comments questioning whether he would still fit into the Hawks' "structure" did not make sense "considering over the last three years I've played back, middle and forward, and I've been captain".

"That might have been the conversation (Lloyd) had at the end of his career because he only had one role (up forward) but, that's the best part about our sport, everyone has an opinion about it. Some people agree, some people don't and it's my job to prove him wrong," Hodge said.

Jarryd Roughead has joined teammates on their trip to Brisbane for Saturday's clash against the Lions and will consult specialists next week to determine the next stage of his fight against cancer.

Roughead had surgery this week after it emerged a melanoma he had removed last year had returned and spread to other parts of his body.

He was particularly keen to head north to help celebrate the 250th match of great friend and four-time premiership teammate, Jordan Lewis.

"He is really keen to get up there and support his mate Jordan. We think it's good for Rough, too. Normality for him is to be around all his mates," Clarkson said.

"He had surgery during the week and he'll meet with specialists early next week to determine where he goes from there. It's good for him to be around. He is stable and healthy enough to fly. All he wants to do is be around his mates and hopefully watch us have a win."

This will be the Hawks' first match at the Gabba since 2008, with seven of their past eight clashes in Launceston.

They have slipped to seventh on the ladder but still remain in top-four contention with hopes of a fourth-straight flag alive.