Luke Hodge has come out of retirement to play for Brisbane and is said to be in the best shape he has been in for six years.

The Hawthorn legend and former captain retired from the game at the end of last season but was offered a two-year deal to join the Lions to help develop their young list.

Hodge announced in the offseason that he was retracing his retirement to go to Brisbane to act as an on-field coach.

Lions CEO Greg Swann told SEN Breakfast that Hodge has exceeded all their expectations and is in great shape.

โ€œWe signed him for two years and (playing 13 games) is sort of what we thought heโ€™d do, but now that heโ€™s here, Chris Fagan thinks heโ€™s the fittest heโ€™s been in six or seven years, his skinfolds are way down and heโ€™s keen to play,โ€ Swann said.

โ€œHe hasnโ€™t missed a session and heโ€™s been that on-field coach that we got him for.

โ€œIn his own mind he wants to play every week.โ€

Brisbaneโ€™s first match of the 2018 season will be against St Kilda next Saturday at Etihad Stadium.