Maybe the Coleman isn't an award that Hawkins really rates? Surprised he went on to win one I guess, I mean after all as you said "Coleman's were never really Hawkins thing"
Tom Hawkins 350 games - What is his standing in the game?
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Maybe the Coleman isn't an award that Hawkins really rates? Surprised he went on to win one I guess, I mean after all as you said "Coleman's were never really Hawkins thing"
- Aug 17, 2006
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People would have said the same about Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell back in the day. No-one thinks that their twilight cameos interstate makes them any less Hawthorn legends.
Hawkins' form would only be one of many considerations. I don't want Hawkins kicking bags in a team sitting in the bottom third of the ladder. I don't want potential key forwards who could take us into the next decade walking because they're stuck behind Hawkins, Cameron and Henry.
If/while we're competing for top fours and premierships, sure it's reasonable to mortgage your future a bit. But I just don't see that happening next year. The club needs to absolutely and honestly know where it's list is now and in the short-medium term and make decisions on the list accordingly. It's where Hawthorn butchered it by bringing in a guy who won a Brownlow with them (admittedly among many less defensible moves) and Richmond's probably butchered it by bringing in a guy who won their B&F in his first year (ditto).
I understand your point and it’s fairly understandable. I would hope that we are still competing anyway so that it would be worthwhile him staying regardless if he was still up to scratch. Sometimes if a young player is wise enough they’ll see that opportunity to stay as an understudy as being worthwhile in the long term for what they learn. It would be a pretty good way to develop, watching a stay at home monster like Hawkins and a roaming athlete like Cameron on the training track every day, to be fair
- May 13, 2014
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HOF and club great
I would say he's now going past Jack Riewoldt and Josh Kennedy in terms of body of work. It's a brilliant career, and unlucky to be overshadowed by Lance Franklin. I think only Franklin eclipses Hawkins in the contemporary era.
Big Tommy is a champion player and a champion person.
When he played his 300th I had been having a wretched time in my personal life and one of the few little highlights each week where I just didn’t have to think about life in general was watching the roosters and cats play footy. I could just switch off for two hours. I sent the club an email congratulating him on the landmark, and just saying what a difference it was making at that time to have something to look forward to each week, and that I enjoyed the way he played his footy and that he’d proved a lot of doubters wrong from his early career.
I got a personal response from him - quite a long one - encouraging me in my personal life just to basically keep going and that despite how s**t things might seem at a given time it could always get better, and more to the point saying that he felt genuinely touched that someone reached out the way I did.
The simple fact that he took the time to respond pretty much told me what sort of person he is.
One of the dumbest things I've read on this forum tbh.
When he has a bad game he can look pretty old and done.
But then next week he'll have a really good game. My favourite games of his are those where he does a lot of work high up the ground. He is a good competitor and most of all, his vision and field kicking is excellent. Not an often noted part of his game.
But then next week he'll have a really good game. My favourite games of his are those where he does a lot of work high up the ground. He is a good competitor and most of all, his vision and field kicking is excellent. Not an often noted part of his game.
blinkd
All Australian
- Mar 20, 2020
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That’s a really good story, I love hearing stuff like this cos it never is brought to light. I hope things got better for you.
He did undoubtedly come of age in the 2011 GF. He announced himself in that game (finals series, really) and continued on as our most dominant key forward for the rest of his career. That said, he wasn't without his hurdles. He was having his break out season in 2012, building upon the end of his 2011 superbly. Then he goes for a mark in Perth and comes crashing down on his head, which seems something to hurt him long term. Then after that, in 2013, he is plagued by back issues that curtail his potency. For years after he is a great contested key forward but he struggles to get off the ground and is often a cause of consternation of the rebound due to his seemingly lethargic pace.
For a few years, it looked like we would see the premature demise, or at least the deterioration of, what Hawkins could have been due to his injuries and body composition. He was undoubtedly incredibly strong and if caught one out against a KPD, few could consistently beat him (I think Lake was the only one I saw do it), but as the one damaging key forward we had, he was often double or triple-teamed and his lack of pace gave him few means to remain in games when the midfield was being stifled or to out-maneuver opponents.
But I think to Tom's greater credit, his career renaissance came later in his career, once he trimmed down, got fitter and adapted his game to what the side needed more of. He's been able to become a better rounded player in his later years, and I think the work he has done here has been where he's most underrated. I remember many, even Geelong fans, saying at one point that Hawkins was a guy who relied on natural physical attributes and talents to get by, and that he was somewhat of a dinosaur, a key forward of a bygone era and that would stem his career.
So, for me, Tom's major achievement has been that he's done the opposite. When he had his setback with his back, he had to adapt and change, and he evidently struggled at times to find the right balance for him. But he's worked hard to become a player to be damaging in the modern game.
His career renaissance can also be attributed to the acquisition of Cameron, who has helped take the heat off him a bit. I feel like people also forget that for many years Tom carried the Geelong forward line basically by himself, definitely as the only dangerou key forward but also at times as pretty much the only capable forward. Take a year like 2018 - Hawkins kicked 60 followed by Menzel who only played half the season, and then it was just midfielders kicking any notable numberes of goals. 2019 a similar story. Then Tom would often be the first to come under attack from Geelong fans when we'd had a bad loss, often at times when the midfield had been flogged and Hawkins had absolutely no forward line support. He was expected to beat a defense entirely organised around stopping him, because he was the only scoring threat, and a midfield that did him no favours with delivery.
Whatever the wider competition think of him, Hawkins has been a wonderful servant of the Geelong football club. By all public appearances, a very nice and humble guy, and I think most can admit he's proven many wrong, even Geelong fans, for his longevity in the game, and a large part of that can be attributed more to his character than pure footballing talent.
- Aug 18, 2009
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that's pretty great - definitely strikes me as the gentlemanly type
- Aug 18, 2009
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my take is he has had a very peculiar career trajectory to play his most consistent footy after 30
I think evaluating this generation of forwards it is :
Buddy
-- size of the known universe --
Throw a blanket over Hawkins / Kennedy / Riewoldt
I think evaluating this generation of forwards it is :
Buddy
-- size of the known universe --
Throw a blanket over Hawkins / Kennedy / Riewoldt
- Apr 3, 2006
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Where did I mention Richo?
Miers and Stengle most likely
11 times our leading goal kicker and in one of the most successful eras of all time. The other time he came second with a big haul of goals ( I think last year). His consistency is amazing and a real striking presence outside of football who represents Geelong in an amazing way.
Didn’t play in 2007 but was in the squad and contributed for close on 20 years in the game now! One of our best players ever walk up start to the all time team.
Didn’t play in 2007 but was in the squad and contributed for close on 20 years in the game now! One of our best players ever walk up start to the all time team.
Hawkins played 9 games in 2007 (debut year) and kicked 12 goals.
Think he meant the GF. But yes he was handy a for first year. Just didn't have the tank that N Ablett had and Nathan despite not being a bustling type probably suited how we played a bit better then.
I remember his debut game against Carlton. Was exceptional for a first game.
Recon his second game was the one that got me really excited:
4 goals in the first half, looks like a contested ground ball and assist in there as well.
Would be good to see some early highlights of when was able to jump.
Sorry I meant Grand Final.
Hate his haircut - have never been able to get past that and appreciate his game.
