 In late 1977, he signed a Form Four which tied him to the Carlton Football Club when he chose to move to Victoria; but, in 1980, while Hodgeman was still at Glenelg, Carlton traded his Form Four to as part of a deal to secure Greg Wells.Hodgeman had no desire to play for Melbourne, and objected to Carlton's treatment of his contract, likening it to horse trading, so he turned his back on both clubs and signed with in 1981.Hodgeman played five seasons with the Kangaroos, winning their best and fairest award, the Syd Barker Medal (and also best clubman) in 1984.