Hodgkin wasn’t able to attend Saturday night’s function as he is overseas.

The 26-year-old starred in his first year back at the Bulldogs, racking up a mountain of possessions in the midfield.

He just missed selection in the Ovens and Murray squad, but if can replicate last season’s form, he would be extremely hard to ignore as the league tackles the top six teams.

But, in a bitter blow for Wodonga as it looks to breaks a seven-year finals drought, Hodgkin signed with fierce rivals, Wodonga Raiders, in late August.

Bulldogs’ co-captain Brett Doswell told The Border Mail at the time he had lost some respect for his team-mate, arguing the announcement of his move just days after falling out of finals contention wasn’t right.

Hodgkin is one of the highest-profile players to do a straight swap.