Geelong’s games-record holder Tom Hawkins is “optimistic” he can return from injury to play a role in the Cats’ premiership push before he ends his illustrious career.
On the same day Richmond superstar Dustin Martin called it quits, the triple premiership player on Tuesday told his Cats teammates he would be bowing out at season’s end after debuting in 2007.
The 36-year-old forward, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since round 15, is still hoping to return and have a fairytale farewell by playing in a fourth flag – 15 years after his first.
Hawkins has played 359 games for the Cats, breaking great mate Joel Selwood’s games record in Geelong’s round-11 game against GWS in May.
“I’m really optimistic that I can come back and have an impact,” said Hawkins, who fronted a packed press conference in front of friends, family and teammates in Geelong.
“I’ve got a bit of a plan that I need to keep working through with certain people in the footy club. For the whole process and the specific injury itself, I haven’t tried to look too far ahead.
“There’s always that little bit of unknown when you’re trying to reload your feet as a key position, heavy player. But I’m quietly confident with what’s ahead.”
Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie, who played with Hawkins for 11 seasons, hailed his former teammate as “a generational player”.
Hawkins won premierships with Geelong in 2009, 2011 and 2022 and has kicked 796 goals, the 13th most in VFL/AFL history.
The power forward won Geelong’s goal-kicking 11 times, and also claimed the Coleman Medal in 2020 when the Cats lost the grand final against Richmond.
Hawkins was drafted as a father-son selection in 2006, with his dad Jack playing 182 games for the Cats between 1973 and 1981.
He said “father time catches up with everyone” but admitted he was comfortable with his decision and described a sense of relief about making it.
Hawkins didn’t rule out continuing to be involved in football post-retirement, but was looking forward to watching the Cats with wife Emma, and children Arabella, Primrose and Henry in the new stand at GMHBA Stadium named after Selwood.
“I didn’t need much convincing to join the Cats,” he said.
“It was a pretty easy decision and they’ve been very good to me ever since.”
Chris Scott has been Geelong coach for all but four of Hawkins’ seasons in the AFL.
Hawkins came of age when he put in a stunning grand final performance in 2011 against Collingwood to make Scott a premiership coach in his first season in charge.
“We will all tell our grandkids, hopefully, one day that we got the chance to either play with, or coach Tom Hawkins,” Scott said on Tuesday.
“Just to say you had chance to know who he was. Everyone will be able to look back on the vision and see his great feats on the field, but not many will have had the privilege to have seen him up close and the way he goes about it.
“One thing we know for sure is he’s going to be one of the all-time greats of the Geelong footy club.”
Geelong sits fifth with three games in the home-and-away season, but are just one match off fading ladder-leaders Sydney.
