Spotlight fails to sizzle emerging hero Hawkins

Andrew Mathieson
GEELONG’S newest cult hero, Tom Hawkins, should have known he would be thrown under the spotlight right from day one.
Not exactly interrogated, though, but idolised since he stepped through the gates of Kardinia Park.
The son of former Cats’ defender Jack Hawkins, who played 182 games between 1973 and 1981, first created headlines after receiving the Larke Medal for best player in last year’s national under18 championships.
Heralded worthy of a topfive pick in November’s national draft last November, Geelong picked up the 197cm forward with selection 41 in the third round under the fatherson rule.
It only took until his second AFL game for the 18yearold to spearhead the Cats’ attack up front with four firsthalf goals after Nathan Ablett was a late withdrawal.
And this week the lad from Finley, NSW, accepted the AFL’s weekly Rising Star nomination with aplomb.
The affable Hawkins has already learnt to take the accolades in his stride.
“I didn’t think I’d be playing this early and to get a game is just great,” he said.
“So I’ve just gone out there and tried to have a bit of fun, which helps.”
Hawkins admitted he had set down a goal to play just the one game in his rookie season.
That’s now going to change.
“Now that I’ve done that I’ve got to sit down and sort of work out another goal that’s reachable by the end of the year,” he said.
“I don’t know, maybe another five would be fantastic.”
Hawkins is also getting a kick out of his father’s return to the club and continuing a proud family tradition.
Tom’s paternal grandfather, Fred Le Deux, played 18 games in the 1950s, while Jack’s brothers, Rob and Michael, both had stints at the club.
“Dad’s just loving being a part of it,” he said.
“He’s had a few interviews and he likes that.”
And the exciting teen is not immune to the nostalgia.
Fans have enjoyed recalling Jumpin’ Jack running off the halfback line for young Tom.
“I wasn’t lucky enough to see him but I’ve had a few people coming out telling me what he was like and he tells me as well,” he said.