By Justin Flynn
Despite an interrupted preseason and a quiet first four rounds, Geelong forward Tom Hawkins has been confident in his body after off-season foot surgery.
Hawkins returned to peak form against Sydney last weekend with five goals as the Cats thrashed last year’s grand final opponents by 93 points.
“I still maintain that I feel 100 percent,” he said.
“It’s a combination of the fact that I’ve had off season surgery and an interrupted preseason, but was still feeling great in my body and my foot in particular leading into round one and got the opportunity to play which I was thrilled about, but being a touch older also has its challenges as well.”
Hawkins said the huge win against the Swans was pleasing.
“We certainly played better on the weekend,” he said.
“We came up against an opponent that was somewhat depleted, they were clearly missing some key components of their side.
“The last couple of weeks, we’re starting to get a bit more consistency about our game, which is ultimately what every team is striving to do.
“It’s something we haven’t been able to piece together in the first five or six rounds of the year.”
Geelong takes on an improved Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.
“(We) look forward to the challenge of playing a side that was terrific yesterday,” he said on Wednesday.
“We’ll prepare for their best and wait and see what happens when the teams get announced.”
Hawkins said fellow forward Jeremy Cameron’s amazing start to the season has been great to watch.
“What he’s been able to produce has really carried us a long way through most part of the season 2023,” he said.
“I’ve loved playing with them and why wouldn’t you? He just brings so much energy, so skilled, so good at our great game and a terrific person away from football as well.
“I think what makes him so unique as well, he sees the game so differently, sort of almost a step or two ahead, his vision around the ground and inside forward 50 is something that I haven’t really played with, particularly in a big man.”
