Tom Hawkins is set to reach a milestone he once thought “unachievable” as a young Geelong Cats supporter growing up on a Riverina farm.
The big Cats forward made the admission in a press conference on Tuesday prior to his 300th game on Friday night against Port Adelaide to open Geelong’s finals campaign.
“To be here on 299 is a real privilege,” the 33-year-old said.
“I’m immensely proud of the fact that I’ve actually been able to represent Geelong. I’m looking forward to hearing from people and embracing the fact that it is a huge milestone.”
But Hawkins will have to play his 300th without wife Emma and his daughters watching live at Adelaide Oval because of Victoria’s latest COVID-19 outbreak.
“They’re not going to be able to come across and I’m going to be away for a bit which, to be honest, I was shattered about early,” Hawkins said.
“I would’ve loved to be able to take my two girls out and have Emma up the race and have my [close] family and friends to the game to watch me play.
“Arguably, they’ve been the most important part in my journey.
“I take solace in the fact that I’ve got my teammates there, who are the other part of getting me to where I am today.
“There’ll certainly be part of me that wishes things were a little bit different.
“That’s life, I’m only going to play 300 games once, and I understand the situation.”
Hawkins planned to spend plenty of time with his family before travelling for the qualifying final and, most likely, another lengthy stint interstate.
“As of 6pm tonight we are quarantining for our trip to Adelaide,” he said.
“I’m going to stay at home and just hang out with my wife Emma and my two girls.
“We’ll be playing and not coming back, that’s as much as I know. I’m preparing to be on the road for a bit.”
Hawkins said the Cats were embracing the “excitement of what finals bring” ahead of playing the in-form Port Adelaide at home.
“There’s no greater challenge than playing a side at the top of their game,” he said.
“Our group’s really looking forward to that.
“For us it’s just about embracing the finals for 2021. We’ve done a lot of hard work to get where we are.”
Hawkins has won two premierships at the Cats. But he said overcoming a back injury, form slumps and other adversities had also shaped him as a player.
“I’ve experienced a lot of disappointment … and harder times prepare you for those great successes and milestones that you have along the way,” he said.
“I’m in my 15th season and I’m going into my 14th year of finals [so] I’m privileged … to be able to represent this club that puts us in the best possible shape [to play for a premiership each year].
“You could arguably look back on the last 10 years and we haven’t been able to win a premiership, but we [earn] a chance every year.”
The 2020 Coleman medallist said he still felt he had football left in him and a strong passion for the game.
“That drive to be able to succeed has kept me in the game for so long.”
Hawkins will join Corey Enright, Joel Selwood, Ian Nankervis, Jimmy Bartel and Sam Newman as 300-game Cats.
