Jordan Lewis Biography

Essendon has called on external names to feature in its coaching search, with Carlton premiership coach Robert Walls and Hawthorn flag winner Jordan Lewis named on the club's coaching sub-committee.

It will be headed by football boss Josh Mahoney, in a show of faith in the former Melbourne football head after what has been a fortnight of turmoil and turnover at the club.

As part of a long-standing promise for winning the 2014 flag, Alastair Clarkson owes the five-man Hawthorn leadership group a trip to the Super Bowl.

Originally locked in for the following year, the trip was denied over what would've been perceived as a breach of the salary cap with the four-time premiership coach "gifting" his players.

And with each year that passes without the commitment being fulfilled, the reminders from captain Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, Josh Gibson and Jarryd Roughead get more intense.

"Every year in the lead-up to the Super Bowl I'm getting text messages from these five or six lads saying, 'Notice you haven't got an airline ticket booked for me this year'," Clarkson said.

"While it seems like a gesture that's a little bit over the top, it's quite sincere from my family's point of the view, as well as our club, just what contribution they made to the success of our footy club through that period of time."

Jordan Lewis announces his retirement and will play in his final AFL game this week against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena.

Lewis said while he felt he could physically play another year, he wasn't prepared for the mental workload associated with a 16th pre-season.

"This year has been a tough year, not only for the football club but for me as well. But the transparency Simon and I have had along the way makes it a lot easier to come to this position and this decision," he said.

Lewis left the door ajar to continue to work in football in some capacity, particularly media.

"That probably excites me a lot, to try and convey to the people who might not necessarily get access to the changeroom talk or philosophies, or the way the game is played, and try to articulate that to them," he said.

Neville Jetta has been elevated to the club's leadership group, with the Demons deciding to retain their co-captaincy model for 2019.

Jetta, 29, replaces veteran defender Jordan Lewis in the group, while Max Gawn will serve as a key leadership group member again.

Midfielders Nathan Jones and Jack Viney will continue as a co-skippers, a role they have held since 2017, in the four-man leadership team.

"I have been fortunate to see Neville's growth as a player and role model first hand over the last 10 years," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"He represents all of the characteristics that we want in a Melbourne person and we are glad that he has been recognised in this way."

Jordan Lewis is preparing for 2019 knowing it could be his final year at AFL level.

"I'm training and the way I'm preparing, I'm going to give it everything realising that it could be my last year," Lewis said.

"My approach to the pre-season and this season is, 'What can I do differently and what can I improve on?' and I think that attitude will hopefully hold me in good stead for the season."

Jordan Lewis will face his former side Hawthorn in a semi-final this week as a Demon.

"My time at Hawthorn was nearly two years ago now, so mentally I've moved on and I'm well entrenched in the Melbourne culture," Lewis said.

"We haven't beaten them since I've been here, so that would be nice, but the enormity of the game and understanding our season would be over if we don't win probably overtakes those emotions of beating Hawthorn in a big game."

Ahead of his 300th game against the Crows at Adelaide Oval, Jordan Lewis says he's eager to play on for as long as he's able to.

Lewis remains contracted until the end of the 2019 season but has come in for external criticism for his style of play and his lack of pace in the Melbourne defence at times this year.

"If I'm playing well, my body's healthy, there's still a position for me, I'll play for as long as I can," Lewis said.

"If that isn't there then I'll retire and go on to something else."

A calf strain will prevent Jordan Lewis from playing any further JLT matches, but the veteran Demon should be fit for their 2018 opening round clash against Geelong.

Max Gawn and Jordan Lewis have been elevated to the vice-captaincy in a streamlined Melbourne leadership group for 2018.

Nathan Jones and Jack Viney will lead the club as co-captains for a second-straight season.

Demons football manager Josh Mahoney says Jordan Lewis' elevation to the role of vice captain of the club is due to his influence on his teammates since crossing over from Hawthorn.

"Jordan came to the club with significant leadership experience," Mahoney said.

"He has been a great mentor and has continued to impart his knowledge onto the group."

Eddie Betts and Steve Johnson headline a list of 10 new AFL life members.

Betts, Jordan Lewis, Kade Simpson and the recently retired Johnson and Andrew Mackie automatically qualified for life membership having passed 300 AFL games.

The AFL announced on Wednesday it had also conferred life membership for "special service to the game" to former Commission chairman and Carlton premiership captain Mike Fitzpatrick, 1993 Norm Smith medallist Michael Long and dual Richmond premiership player and long-time broadcaster Rex Hunt.

Jordan Lewis will spend the summer training as a defender, as Melbourne looks to enhance its leadership credentials among an inexperienced backline group.

"One of the gaps was a little bit of leadership down back," Lewis said.

"That's not to say that I'll play there next year but certainly throughout the pre-season, I think I'll train the majority of the time in the backline."

Jordan Lewis is critical of the current interpretation of the deliberate out of bounds rule.

The ruling, which the AFL tightened at the beginning of the season, has caused plenty of conjecture as players are being penalised more harshly than ever before.

"I personally think it's become a little bit ridiculous to be honest," Lewis said.

"It needs to be looked at because sometimes players don't have any other options.

"I sit at home as a viewer of the game and I get frustrated."

Jordan Lewis says he has nothing to prove to former club Hawthorn as he prepares to face the Hawks for the first time this week.

"I'm here to perform as a Melbourne player and I want to make my coaches and my teammates happy," Lewis said on Fox Footy.

"I don't have to prove to anyone at Hawthorn that I can play. I want to perform for 'Goody' and Melbourne."

Jordan Lewis accepts a three-match ban for striking Blue Patrick Cripps.

"A bit disappointed in myself, and we've sort of dealt with it," Lewis said of his suspension.

"It's probably disappointing from a club point of view that, as a leader, you're not really setting the right example."

Patrick Cripps suffers a fractured jaw after being struck by Jordan Lewis behind play in the last quarter of the Eagles' clash with Carlton.

"Patrick had scans last night which confirmed a small hairline fracture in his jaw," Blues football manager Andrew McKay said.

"Given his jaw is stable and not displaced, we will assess him further over the coming days to determine whether he will be available to play this Sunday against the Bombers."

Lewis is offered a three-match suspension by the Match Review Panel who deemed him to have intentionally struck Cripps.

Melbourne has elevates Jack Viney to co-captain alongside Nathan Jones for the 2017 season.

Former Hawk Jordan Lewis has been voted straight into the Demons' six-man leadership group.

Veteran Colin Garland has made way, while Tom McDonald, Max Gawn and Bernie Vince make up the rest of the group.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says Jordan Lewis is intent on proving himself to his new teammates.

"He's come in with a fantastic attitude and done a hell of a lot of work," Goodwin told SEN.

"He's trained extremely hard. He's been in the gym and been lifting heavy, and done every session so we couldn't be happier.

"I think he's got a point to prove that he's got a lot of footy left in him and he's an exciting guy to have around the footy club, especially for the younger players."

Hawthorn completest its second shock trade in five days, losing vice-captain Jordan Lewis to Melbourne.

The trade comes despite list manager Graham Wright last week declaring Lewis would remain at the club in 2017.

The Hawks received picks 48 and 66 in exchange for the 30-year-old midfielder, who played 24 games this year and 264 overall for the Hawks since his debut in 2005.

The Demons get picks 57 and 68 in return from Hawthorn.

"For me it was about the youth and enthusiasm ... they're knocking on the door and they beat us (Hawthorn) quite convincingly last year, but also the competitive nature that they play with," Lewis said of his decision to move to the Demons.

"That really resonated with me and that was one of the deciding factors, as well as knowing some of the people here."

Hawthorn admits it didn't want to trade vice-captain Jordan Lewis, but was not prepared to match Melbourne's three-year deal.

"We’re really disappointed, we didn’t want Jordan to go in the end," Hawthorn list manager Graham Wright said.

"Obviously he got a three-year offer that was really exciting for him.

"As I said we would have much preferred that it didn’t go this way, but it has and we’ll move on."

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson sends Hawthorn members an extensive video explaining why club greats Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis were traded.

"It's mainly got to do with our list profile. At some point in time tough decisions need to be made in terms of looking to the future as well," Clarkson said on why the pair were not offered longer deals.

Jordan Lewis' manager Liam Pickering is continuing talks with Hawthorn and Melbourne, but denies the star midfielder has any resentment towards the Hawks.

"I'm having good dialogue with both Melbourne and also the Hawks. There's no issues, he's not filthy, he's not angry," Pickering said.

"Lewy, he's a professional, he's the vice-captain of the club, he finished second in their (best and fairest) last week. Whatever happens will happen.

"But I need to keep working through it with Jordan and we'll see where it goes. I'm only doing what Jordan wants me to do, that's all I'll say."

Melbourne is still keen on trading for Jordan Lewis, despite Hawthorn's consistent assertion that he will remain at the club in 2017.

"We received an approach from Jordan Lewis’s management earlier this week regarding the possibility of him joining Melbourne. This was after discussions Jordan had with Hawthorn," a statement from the Demons read.

"We understand that Jordan is contracted to Hawthorn, but we remain interested in looking at this option."

Jordan Lewis's management approached Melbourne about a potential move to the Demons as Hawthorn wrestled with ways to get young midfielders Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara into the club.

Despite their initial surprise, the Demons are understood to have considered the prospect of recruiting Lewis, who has one season to run on his contract, before the shock news broke that Sam Mitchell could join West Coast.

This is believed to have changed the landscape, with the Hawks less receptive to the prospect of Lewis departing.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson met Lewis on Thursday to assure him he was a required player.

Sam Mitchell wins Hawthorn's best and fairest for a fifth time.

Mitchell passes Shane Crawford, Jason Dunstall and John Kennedy snr as four-time winners of the Peter Crimmins Medal and trails only Leigh Matthews, who was named club champion eight times.

He finished with 170 votes, ahead of Jordan Lewis (157) and Shaun Burgoyne (156).

"The last few years have obviously been something special but I think the next few years are going to be something new and something still pretty special," Mitchell said.

"If you look at the history of this football club, it's had success for the last 50-plus years, and I think that's going to continue."

Jordan Lewis tells of the shock and emotion after hearing of Jarryd Roughead's reoccurrence of melanoma.

Roughead underwent a routine scan on Monday afternoon, which revealed the cancer, and Lewis was one of the first people he called.

Lewis said he was driving home from the club at about 4.30pm when Roughead asked him if he could return.

"Usually when someone asks you that, 'Clarko' has thought of a meeting," Lewis said.

"He just broke down and asked for me to come back.

"When we were both at the club, we just sat in our player development manager's office and we both just sort of had a bit of a cry.

"No words were needed, but the seriousness of it would break anyone down, no matter how strong or fit you are."

Jordan Lewis says he is ready to step up as captain of the Hawks if Luke Hodge's reign as Hawks skipper comes to an end.

"It would sit comfortably with me, there's no doubt about that. I've been around for 12 years now and I'm experienced. I think with the group we've got, it's not a major jump, not like at some clubs because we have a disciplined group and it's quite an easy side to lead, to be honest," Lewis said.

"I've been in that position. 'Hodgey' has missed games through injury and either Roughy or I have stepped up to lead, so it's not that big of a deal internally compared to externally. But it would be a proud achievement."

Jordan Lewis accepts a $1000 fine for tripping Carlton's Andrew Carrazzo and will be free to play in Hawthorn's qualifying final against West Coast in Perth.

Jordan Lewis is suspended for two matches after striking North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein.

"I've been pretty good for a while now and it's unfortunate that this creeps back into my game … I really worked hard to get that out of my game," Lewis told Fox Footy.

"Whenever you play a game and get reported, there's a certain part of you that feels little bit let down."

Jordan Lewis accepts a two-game suspension for striking North ruckman Todd Goldstein.

Lewis was reported at the 24-minute mark of the first quarter for a late and crude round-arm spoil that collected Goldstein in the head.

Hawthorn selects Jermaine Miller-Lewis with pick No.36 in the 2014 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

"He's quick and aggressive – a really competitive indigenous boy," Hawks recruiting and list manager Graham Wright said.

"He's good overhead but probably needs to work on his kick a little.

"He's very raw, but another one who is a quality young man and right into his indigenous culture."

Jordan Lewis has capped off his career-best season by winning the club's best and fairest award, the Peter Crimmins Medal, for the first time.

Lewis (185 votes) surged to victory on the back of a stellar second half of the year to win comfortably from runner-up Grant Birchall (163) and fellow vice-captain Jarryd Roughead (161).

He polled in 22 of his 24 games and in every game after round 12.

In his acceptance speech, he paid particular tribute to Hawks midfield coach Cameron Bruce for turning him into a consistently elite performer.

"We sort of sat down after round five or six and sort of changed the way I played," Lewis said.

"I probably wasn't getting to as many contests as I would've liked and we reviewed a lot of tape and put in place a plan that we thought would improve my football.

"I think as you saw as the year progress I managed to play a lot more consistently than I have in the past."

Jordan Lewis is set to finish his career as a one-club player after signing a new contract extension with Hawthorn.

The 28-year-old was due to come out of contract at the end of next season, but has decided to re-sign with the Hawks for a further two years, keeping him at the club until at least the end of season 2017.

"I'm very happy to sign," Lewis told Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

"It looks like I'll be a Hawthorn player for life."

Jordan Lewis says he's proud of his form this year, declaring 2014 his most consistent season yet.

The dual premiership player is the Hawks' number one clearance player this season and is averaging a club-high 26 disposals per game, equaling his best output in 2009.

"I would say it's my most consistent season definitely," Lewis said.

"It's always nice to play some good football and try and contribute in a way that you can, but to string games together and perform and really help the team on a consistent basis has really been something I've been proud of this year."

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge has endorsed young midfielder Liam Shiels as a candidate to succeed him as skipper if he continues to lead the Hawks until his playing days are finished.

"[If we made a change] at this stage, we'd probably look at Jordan Lewis or Jarryd Roughead," Hodge told Talking Footy.

"But if I'm going to go a couple more years, depending what way the club wants to go, then Liam Shiels is another one who stands out."

Jordan Lewis will play in his 200th game against St Kilda this week at just 28 years of age.

"The reason people get to 200 is they're resilient and their bodies obviously have to hold up," he said.

"You've got to play some sort of consistent football.

"No doubt, it's gone quick ... to reach that at 28 and be involved in some really good games and be involved at one club is something I will be proud of once I finish."

Jordan Lewis admits it was uncomfortable watching the replay of his 'dive' in the third quarter against Essendon.

Lewis staged for a free kick after being pushed in the chest by Brendon Goddard, falling theatrically to the ground on the Hawks' defensive side of the wing.

To rub salt into the wound, Goddard played on from his mark and handballed forward while Lewis lay prone on the ground.

"I do remember it and once I saw it I didn't really like it, to be honest," Lewis said.

"I suppose I probably hadn't had a kick up until then, so I thought if I can try and suck him in in any way I might get my first kick for the game.

"But I don't want to get a reputation for that."

A war of words has erupted on Twitter between Jordan Lewis and Rules of the Game Committee member Kevin Bartlett.

Speaking on SEN Radio, Bartlett claimed that some players were deliberately exploiting the high contact rule to draw a free kick, labeling it "a very dangerous act".

"For Kevin Bartlett to say players deliberately drive their heads into an opponent while picking up a ball off the ground is naïve – scary he is on the rules committee," Lewis tweeted.

"Very happy after Friday nights game that Jordan Lewis is not in a wheelchair #aheadisnotabatteringram," Bartlett tweeted in response.

Jordan Lewis takes himself off the free agency market after signing a two-year deal with the Hawks.

"We have won one premiership, and once you have won one with a side you have been given the opportunity to play for, you want to hang around. Hopefully, there's more success here in the future," Lewis said.

"There would be nothing worse than leaving this club and seeing all your mates up on the dais receiving their medals. You would definitely be kicking yourself if that happened."

Hawthorn vice-captain Jordan Lewis faces a modified start to pre-season training after surgery.

"He will still be able to get all of the running activities done, but he'll need to be careful, and slowly build up in terms of any contact," Hawks football manager Mark Evans said.

"Initially it'll be very light ball skills, and then particularly into tackling and things like that, he'll need to be careful with that through to probably the end of January."

John Longmire says Lewis Jetta's 2012 has been a major reason for his team's climb up the AFL ladder.

"His first half of the year has been a real credit to the way he has improved his football, and he has taken his consistency to another level," Longmire said.

"He now has the confidence to play real good, strong, hard two-way football and gives us a real spark and bite. He has certainly improved. We are pleased at what he has been able to do. It has been a huge jump."

Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis are appointed Hawthorn vice captains for the 2011 season.

"Jarryd and Jordan are well respected leaders within our Club and have shown great leadership for several years, and stepped it up to another level over this pre-season," Hawk skipper Luke Hodge said.

"At Hawthorn we understand that leadership is not left to the three of us, we have an older experienced group and younger maturing guys coming through."

Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis is guranteed to play against Collingwood on Saturday despite a heavy hit last week which led to concussion.

"While he got hit in the head, he got hit in the body pretty hard too," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"It's had the affect right through his body. He's been a little sore and sorry throughout the week but he'll be OK to play."

Hawk Jordan Lewis says he hasn't sacrificed his strength or toughness despite shedding seven kilograms over summer.

"I've maintained my strength by losing the weight, but I think it's mainly endurance and being able to run out the games would probably be the biggest difference," Lewis said.

"Obviously being a little bit lighter you can perform more consistently on the track. I didn't go out at the start of pre-season to lose this much but it just so happens that I did."

Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis has shed 7kg during this pre-season, leaving at his lightest since he was a teenager.

"I'm weighing in at about 86kg. Last year, I was playing at about 93, so it's a pretty big change," Lewis said.

"I think for a midfielder these days, you've got to be 85 or 86. You need strength, but you also need endurance."

Midfielder Jordan Lewis has spoken of his relief at remaining a Hawk after being linked to trade discussions involving Port Adelaide's Shaun Burgoyne.

"Obviously you're aware, a few mates text you, but I try and go away in trade week because you just never know if your name gets brought up," Lewis said.

"When it first came out, Mark Evans rang me and said there's no truth to it so just don't worry about it. And, fortunately, enough I stayed a Hawk."

Saint James Gwilt is free to play against Essendon this week after accepting a reprimand for making forceful contact with Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis on Saturday.

Port Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi is awaiting scans expected to confirm forehead fracture after a nasty head clash with Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis.

Hawthorn faces the prospect of losing one of its in-form midfielders for Saturday night's crucial clash against Collingwood.

Hawthorn will decide this morning whether to challenge Lewis's penalty for striking North Melbourne's Michael Firrito in the third quarter in Launceston on Sunday.

The AFL tribunal has cleared Jordan Lewis of striking Michael Firrito.

Despite Lewis admitting he had delivered a punch to the stomach of North Melbourne midfielder Michael Firrito, the Hawks successfully argued the force of the strike was "not more than negligible".

"I'm very happy," Lewis said after the hearing. "Obviously no excuses for what I did ... the force wasn't too hard and I'm very lucky to get off."

Hawthorn premiership midfielder Jordan Lewis has revealed how close he came to missing last year's Grand Final due to a mystery illness.

"It was definitely a worry," he said.

"I just thought it was a common cold. Then I wasn't sure if it was just the nerves of being in a Grand Final.

"It wasn't just that I might miss the game, because I was determined to play, it was that I might not go into the game in the best possible shape.

"In hindsight, I was definitely lucky to play."

Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis joins Luke Hodge and Trent Croad on pre-season injury list after shoulder surgery.

Kangaroos pair Daniel Pratt and Brady Rawlings question Hawthorn's hardness at the ball after Hawk Jordan Lewis is suspended for a match for punching Pratt in the stomach.

Pratt was called "extremely soft" and "pathetic" by Lewis' teammate Campbell Brown for collapsing to the ground after the alleged punch by Lewis.

"If you're going to be hard at the footy and put your head over the ball, that's what being tough is," Pratt said in response to Brown's comments.

Rawlings concurred with Pratt's assessment.

"Hardness is really about when the ball is in play and putting your head over the ball," Rawlings said.

"They probably had a couple of undisciplined things off the ball, so I don't think that's anything to do with toughness."