Luke McCabe

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2015}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Luke McCabe

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|8|10|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Central District (SANFL)

| debutdate = Round 1, 1995

| debutteam = Hawthorn

| debutopponent = Brisbane Bears

| debutstadium = Waverley Park

| height = 183 cm

| weight = 82 kg

| position =

| statsend = 2008

| years1 = 1995–2004

| club1 = Hawthorn

| games_goals1 = 138 (12)

| years2 = 2005–2006, 2008

| club2 = Central District

| games_goals2 = 58

| careerhighlights = *Peter Crimmins Medal (2nd HFC B&F): 1998

| fullname =

}}

Luke McCabe (born 10 August 1976) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Australian Football League (AFL) and Central District in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).

McCabe was a small defender who usually played in the back pockets. He was recruited by Hawthorn at pick 15 in the 1993 National Draft but took a while to establish himself in the team, playing over 20 games in a season for the first time in 1998. He finished that season with a second placing in Hawthorn's best and fairest awards and the following season was a member of their pre season premiership side.

He is remembered for his participation in one of the "memorable moments" between Hawthorn and Melbourne when, in round 1, 2002, he was on the receiving end of a mighty hip and shoulder from David Neitz on his way to snap an inspirational goal.{{cite web|last=Burgan|first=Matt|title=Demon Dozen: Memorable moments against Hawthorn|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/100147/default.aspx|publisher=Melbourne Football Club|accessdate=6 February 2012|date=11 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720020720/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/100147/default.aspx|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=dead}}

McCabe returned to Central District for the 2005 SANFL season and was an integral part of the Bulldogs winning their third consecutive premiership. McCabe was awarded the Jack Oatey Medal for being the best on ground in the Grand Final. He retired from senior football following the end of the 2006 season due to work commitments. However, McCabe returned to Central District for the 2008 season.