Tom Hawkins announces his retirement from the AFL at the end of the 2024 season when he will finish his career ranked in the top 15 for games played and goals kicked at VFL/AFL level.
"Tom has been an incredible presence both on and off the field at Geelong for the past 18 years, with his ability to play consistently at an elite level, along with humility and care for his teammates, trademarks of his career," Geelong footy manager Andrew Mackie said.
"He is a generational player who will rightly be celebrated for his achievements on field, as well as the role he has played shaping our club into what it is today."
Hawkins is nearing a return from a foot injury and is hoping he can still play a key role in the Cats' push towards another finals campaign.
Tom Hawkins is ruled out for at least six weeks after sustaining an atypical mid-foot joint and ligament injury in the Cats' 63-point loss to Carlton at the MCG.
Tom Hawkins receives a warning from the AFL after he was seen using a mobile phone during the Cats' win over Hawthorn on Easter Monday.
During a lightning delay at three-quarter time at the MCG, Hawkins – playing his 350th AFL game – was handed a phone in the change rooms to look at the rain radar.
Geelong coach Chris Scott hails Tom Hawkins as one of the greatest forwards of his generation ahead of the veteran's 350th game.
"I think he's been one of the great players in his position of a generation," Scott said.
"It's been a real privilege (to coach Hawkins). It's easy to get hung up on the on-field accolades and sort of miss the impact that he's had around the place."
Tom Hawkins kicks a career-best eight goals and wins the Tom Wills Award in the annual Country Game between the Bombers and the Cats.
Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Tom Hawkins is facing the prospect of a delayed start to 2023, with the forward set to have surgery on a lingering foot injury.
"Our medical team and Tom have gone through an extensive process which has included consultation with specialists to determine the best approach and have come to the decision for Tom to undergo surgery this week," Geelong GM of Football Simon Lloyd said.
Tom Hawkins will miss the Cat's preliminary final against Richmond after a one-match striking ban was upheld at the AFL Tribunal.
Hawkins unsuccessfully attempted to downgrade the conduct assessment of his charge from intentional to careless, having struck West Coast defender Will Schofield in an off-the-ball incident during his side's semi-final victory.
Back-to-back bags of seven goals has Tom Hawkins making a late charge for his first Coleman Medal with his tally now up to 48 so far in the 2018 season.
Magpies coach Collingwood coach says Geelong have reason to question the AFL Tribunal's decision to clear Carlton players Ed Curnow and Charlie Curnow of their separate intentional umpire contact charges, after Tom Hawkins was dealt a one-game suspension for similar contact.
"If I was Geelong I'd be bleeding … absolutely bleeding," he told SEN radio.
"Because Hawkins handled himself so well, I thought the club handled it well. You'd be scratching your head wondering, 'Why be so gracious when it's not actually supported or followed through?'"
Patrick Dangerfield slams the Tribunal's decision to downgrade Carlton players Ed Curnow and Charlie Curnow's intentional umpire contact charges a week after Tom Hawkins was slapped with a one-game ban.
"I think it was farcical, to be honest," Dangerfield told SEN radio.
"It's a couple of years running now that Tom has worn the brunt of the MRP. Then the following weeks the same thing has happened and it hasn't been consistent.
"I think we're all scratching our heads as to where is the consistency because I'm a little confused."
Tom Hawkins is suspended for one match after pleading guilty to making intentional contact with umpire Dean Margetts during the second quarter of Geelong's win over Greater Western Sydney.
"I absolutely respect the umpires and their importance to the game at all levels," Hawkins said after Tribunal's verdict.
"The Tribunal came up with a decision today that was in the best interests of the game and I totally respect that."
Tom Hawkins is in hot water after making intentional contact with an umpire.
As umpire Dean Margetts approached Hawkins to explain a free kick and 50m penalty paid against him following a second quarter incident during Geelong's win over Greater Western Sydney, Hawkins pushed the umpire's hand away.
Geelong accepts a two-game suspension handed to Tom Hawkins for striking Sydney's Dane Rampe with a jumper punch.
"I've had a one-on-one conversation with him and he's very remorseful, as you would expect, but it's pretty clear in this current climate that you just can't do that," Cats football manager Steve Hocking said.
Geelong accepts a one-match ban handed to Tom Hawkins for his jumper punch on Adelaide midfielder Matt Crouch.
Hawkins became the first victim of the AFL's publicly declared crackdown on jumper and gut punches after the Match Review Panel graded his strike on Crouch as intentional with low impact to the head.
Cats coach Chris Scott said the club was not prepared to risk the extra one-match penalty if the challenge was unsuccessful at the Tribunal.
"We feel that the odds are so stacked against you … with so little grounds to actually challenge things, that you're really challenging a subjective view and by extension the stance that the AFL has made," Scott said.
Joel Selwood will lead Geelong once again after the club announced at its season launch on Wednesday night he would be Cats captain for the sixth consecutive season in 2017.
The 28-year-old's brother, Scott Selwood, will join him in the eight-man leadership group for the first time with 24-year-old Cam Guthrie also making his debut in the group.
Harry Taylor, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan and Mark Blicavs round out the Cats' leadership group for the year.
Having tasted premiership success as a young player in 2009, Tom Hawkins says he now wants to be part of a premiership as a senior player in the Geelong line-up.
"I'm 28 now and one of the older players on the list, so I would love nothing more, after being part of [premierships] before, than winning one as a senior player," Hawkins said.
"There would nothing more satisfying than to get one."
The career path of Geelong star Tom Hawkins has inspired Greater Western Sydney forward Jonathon Patton to keep the faith that the best footy of his career is just around the corner.
Hawkins is one of the competition's best power forwards, but he took time to prove himself on a consistent basis, his strong 2011 finals series in his fifth season the catalyst behind his now outstanding career.
"Tom (Hawkins) had an amazing finals series that year, especially the Grand Final," he said.
"I think young key forwards can look at something like that and know that it's not always about you not being good enough, it's just about being patient sometimes.
"All key forwards take longer to develop and obviously I've had some injuries that have hindered that and I haven't been out there to play.
"I'm playing a bit of catch up and I'm getting there, but still have a lot of things to improve on."
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott is critical of the Match Review Panel's decision to suspend Geelong's Tom Hawkins for one match for striking GWS defender Phil Davis.
"The frustrating thing was Mark Evans made it very clear when he took over that we don't want players to miss games unless they do something stupid that deserves to miss games.," Scott said.
"The really unsavoury incidents, players should get suspended and players know that, but I thought he made it really clear that for these innocuous sort of things, that we don't really like and we don't want to condone, we'll fine the players for that.
"And that's the way it's always been since Mark came in. This is the one time where it seems to fly in the face of all the previous other decisions."
Tom Hawkins is handed a one-game suspension from the Match Review Panel for striking GWS co-captain Phil Davis in the Cats' 10-point win at Simonds Stadium.
The 27-year-old's left-handed cuff early in the final quarter caught Davis on the chin and neck, and was graded as intentional conduct with low impact to the head.
Geelong coach Chris Scott says he was bewildered when he was made aware of Hawkins' striking charge.
"I'd seen the incident and I didn't really give it a second thought. I only got the news a couple of hours ago and it shocked me," Scott said.
"It is a big, big risk to take something like this to the Tribunal; we play the Bulldogs in two weeks at Etihad (and) it'll be a big risk to lose him for that as well."
A slimmed-down Tom Hawkins believes he's in the best shape he's been in for years leading into 2016.
Hawkins' off-season body transformation came about after some frank discussions with officials at the club, with the introduction of the interchange cap firmly in mind.
"I feel I'm better conditioned this season for the rule changes," Hawkins said.
"I feel like I'm a lot better prepared for what the year is going to throw at me, than I have been in the last couple of years."
Geelong coach Chris Scott says he expects Tom Hawkins to be a more productive player after being injury-free, slimming down and settling into his key forward role.
"Last year we were asking him to fill two or three roles for us, which is not ideal," Scott said.
"He doesn't have any of the niggling injuries that he's had in the past and he has been able to do the work, so that is the most important part."
Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan and Mark Blicavs are new additions to Geelong's leadership group for 2016.
The trio join existing leaders Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor and Tom Hawkins while veterans Corey Enright and Andrew Mackie have stepped down to make room for the new members.
Selwood will be captain for the fifth successive season while Taylor remains vice-captain.
The AFL's Multicultural Program will expand to 18 player ambassadors in 2016 and will also include two female players.
Sabrina Frederick-Traub and Darcy Vescio will be joined in promoting some of the many diverse backgrounds in Australia’s Game by Brisbane Lions Vice Captain Dayne Zorko, Geelong’s Tom Hawkins, Fremantle’s Tendai Mzundu, Gold Coast SUNS players Adam Saad and Tom Nicholls, Sydney Swan Aliir Aliir and Western Bulldogs player Jason Johannisen.
The new additions in 2016 join existing Australia Post AFL Multicultural Player Ambassadors David Zaharakis (Essendon), Stephen Coniglio (GWS GIANTS), Paul Puopolo (Hawthorn), Shem Tatupu (Hawthorn), Alipate Carlile (Port Adelaide), Jimmy Toumpas (Port Adelaide), Bachar Houli (Richmond), Nic Naitanui (West Coast) and Lin Jong (Western Bulldogs).
“The expanded list of 18 ambassadors, representing 13 AFL Clubs and two female Clubs, will play a crucial role in raising cultural understanding, inclusion and participation at all levels of Australian Football,” AFL General Manager Game and Market Development Simon Lethlean said.
Tom Hawkins signs a new five-year contract that will keep him at the Cattery until at least the end of the 2020 season, all but ensuring he finishes his career a one-club player.
"I'm very excited to be on the journey with the Geelong football club for the next five years," Hawkins said.
"It's the club I barracked for when I was younger, it's the club that supported my junior development and it's a club that my family has a rich history of involvement with.
"My family's connection with the club was one of the major reasons why I have stayed here."
After being a late withdrawal from the Cats' clash against Gold Coast due to the death of his mother, Tom Hawkins remains in doubt for selection this week.
"He's trained but not with the group. He's had commitments that we have respected and supported over the last few days," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
"The only thing that we need to be clear with Tom about is that he understands that it is completely his decision and he doesn't owe us anything in terms of playing this weekend.
"If Tom decides to play he'll have our full support. But if there's any doubt there we'll push him to take another week."
After several modest performances in 2014, Tom Boyd has a breakout performance against the Cats in round 18, kicking two key goals in the final term of the Giants' seven-point defeat to Geelong.
"It was great to see Boydy take a few marks and kick a few goals," teammate Devon Smith said.
"It was really good for his confidence. He's a massive lad. I reckon in two or three years' time he'll be like Tom Hawkins. He's just so big."
Geelong's heavy reliance on Tom Hawkins is a concern for coach Chris Scott at the halfway stage of the season.
"The short answer's yes. But even the very best teams rely on their best players," Scott replied when asked if Hawkins has shouldered too much of the load in attack.
"We're still very open-minded as to what our best look in there is.
"You could say that that's a problem, but it's also an opportunity isn't it? We're 8-3 at the half-way mark and we're miles away from getting our best forward group together."
Tom Hawkins believes he is getting back to his best after last year's back injury that was the first major hiccup of his career.
"I feel like I have been slowly building each week, and if I can get that consistency back in my game, that's when I'll be feeling like I can play really good footy," Hawkins said.
With Geelong's clash against Hawthorn on the line in the fourth quarter, Tom Hawkins grabs the game by the scruff of the neck to boot three of his five goals in a 10-minute match-winning burst.
"That is the thing we value more than any other – players that stand up when it really counts, in the crucial contests and the crucial moments of the game when the heat is really on," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
"It's easy to do it when you're front-running and there's not much at stake but to do it when it counts, in my view that is the mark of a great player.
"He's moving so much better this year. We're confident he can keep moving towards being a really dominant player in the competition."
Tom Hawkins kicks four goals in the Cats' two-point NAB Challenge win against Collingwood at Simonds Stadium, suggesting he has come a long way in overcoming a back injury that hampered him last season.
"He's done the pre-season we were looking for from him and he looked pretty solid tonight," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
"We've got to be careful to avoid the comparisons to this time last year. Let's just move forward, based on what's presenting at the time and the indications from tonight are pretty positive."
Cat Tom Hawkins is on a modified pre-season program that the club believes will help him overcome his back problems in 2014.
"I probably shouldn't even be talking about it now, because as of day one of the pre-season for him, he's uninjured and really unmanaged," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
"It obviously affected his football, but it's not a debilitating issue. If you saw Tom in the street, you wouldn't have known.
"Everyone's really confident that he can move past it and get back to his best footy this year."
Geelong coach Chris Scott remains confident Tom Hawkins can have an impact in September despite admitting his back injury can fluctuate on any given day.
"If he wakes up the day of the game and feels great he's pretty much normal and can have his usual impact. Today I don't think he was feeling great, but it's not too different to other weeks this year," Scott said after the Cats snuck home by one point against the Brisbane Lions in their final game for the 2013 regular season.
Geelong coach Chris Scott remains adamant that out-of-form Tom Hawkins is a big part of the Cats' finals plans.
"We would like a little bit more than just a contest from him and we're confident we'll get that," Scott said.
"We haven't seen anything from Tom that would lead us to believe that we can't go in with that sort of set up the way it is, not withstanding that we expect him to improve."
Geelong coach Chris Scott remains confident that Tom Hawkins will play a role for the Cats in finals despite the key forward continuing to struggle with a back complaint.
"The aim was to limit Tom's game time a little bit this week," Scott said after Hawkins managed 7 disposals, 4 marks and 3 behinds against Sydney before being subbed out of the game.
"We have got a really specific plan. I can't walk you through what that means in the next few weeks unfortunately but we're pretty confident he will play a part in the final series."
Tom Hawkins form continues to deteriorate as he struggles with a back injury but Cats coach Chris Scott remains optimistic that the key forward will be able to contribute in finals.
"The more important thing is how he is in himself and how he's handing that back issue," Scott said.
"I think the probability is that we give him a week off to get over this slight deterioration.
"But that's doesn't change the medium-term outlook for Tom. We're still really optimistic that the program we've got in place will have him in good form and good health for the finals."
Geelong coach Chris Scott blasts Geelong supporters for giving struggling forward Tom Hawkins the bronx cheers for a late possession against Port Adelaide.
"It's embarrassing. It's embarrassing for all of Geelong. We've got some pretty ugly supporters, if that's the case. They've been well looked after for a long period of time, and we expect better,'' Scott said.
Monday, 20 May 2013
Harry O'Brien says a fiery exchange between him and Cat Tom Hawkins was just on-field banter.
Reports have surfaced that O'Brien had called Hawkins a "f***ing f**got", a claim which O'Brien denies.
"Just to clear something up..Id never resort to a homophobic slur..for those wanting to know, I said fat f$@k..simply some onfield banter," O'Brien tweeted to his 44,000 followers.
He continued: "there was a lot of passion in that game & things did get heated...there was 2 way banter...Just what you expect in the heat of the battle."
Tom Hawkins says he is keen to play most of Geelong's NAB Cup games n 2013 to get himself ready for the season proper.
"I like to get a few games under my belt, because you can do all the training, running around and lifting in the gym that you like, but it never quite prepares you for what it's like in an actual game," Hawkins said.
"So I think it's vital that I get a few games in (before round one of the home and away season)."
Key forward Tom Hawkins has taken out his first Geelong best and fairest award with 1394 votes, while club captain Joel Selwood was second on 1380.
"I'm a bit shocked, to be honest, but it's obviously very humbling and I feel very lucky," Hawkins said.
"I've probably frustrated a lot of people out here over my previous five years.
"I've had so much support from the footy club. I used to barrack for Geelong as a kid and I feel very privileged to play for the club."
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Jack Riewoldt secures his second Coleman Medal after kicking six goals against Port Adelaide in Richmond's final game for 2012 to take his season tally to 65, ahead of Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich and Geelong's Tom Hawkins, both on 62.
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
With 58 goals so far and sitting third on the goalkicking table, Geelong forward Tom Hawkins says he is unaffected by the opportunity to win this year's Coleman Medal.
"We've got a big job to do this week, and we want to win and take some really good form into playing finals," Hawkins said.
"So that's the task at hand, and whatever comes of (the Coleman Medal) comes. I think we've learned over the last few years that really good form holds you in good stead throughout the finals, so that's what we'll be concentrating on as a team."
Thursday, 16 August 2012
Cats forward Tom Hawkins has recovered from his concussion and will line up against St Kilda.
"I've probably had a bit of a lighter load training-wise. Then I had to complete a (cognitive) test. That just indicates whether you're right to play," Hawkins said.
"You let them know your symptoms and then you've got to do a variety of tests, so that was all done successfully."
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Tom Hawkins is stretchered from the ground at Patersons Stadium during Geelong's clash with West Coast after the big forward fell heavily to the ground during a marking contest.
"It was a bit concerning there for a little while. We were a little bit worried, but he looks to be as good as you could hope at the moment. But, as always, it's going to take a long time to tell for sure," Cats coach Chris Scott said.
"Everything else seems to be OK. The doctors are really happy with the way he is now."
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Tom Hawkins kicks a goal after the siren to sink the Hawks by just two points in a thriller at the MCG.
"I knew there wasn't much time left in the game, so it was one of those things where the siren went and I had the ball. I heard it just as I started walking in," Hawkins said.
"We just worked so hard and everything came together. It was just a great moment for us as a team to have. It's great for the group.
"In games as tight as that we always think we can win, and we train for situations like that. If we can get the ball and move it quickly down the ground, we always think we're a chance."
Monday, 4 June 2012
Geelong key forward Tom Hawkins has agreed to a new contract with the club that will keep him at the Cats until the end of 2015.
"I love being down here in Geelong. The footy club is a great environment to come to work every day," Hawkins said.
"I think we're set up now to be really successful in the future and I don't think we'll drop off. I love playing for Geelong and I love playing alongside my teammates, so it was a no-brainer."
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Minor knee surgery will sideline Coleman Medal leader Tom Hawkins for at least a week.
"He was really labouring by the end of the game on the weekend, so the decision was made to get it fixed as soon as possible," Cats coach Chris Scott said.
"We're confident he'll be better really quickly, and maybe he could've pushed through a little bit, but it would just be delaying the inevitable."
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Bulldogs forward Liam Jones says Tom Hawkins' form turnaround in2012 is his inspiration.
"That's a pretty good thing for a young forward like me, seeing how hard he's had to work and how long it's taken him," he said.
"The player he's turned out to be now keeps me optimistic about what things could turn out like for me."
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Tom Hawkins firms as a bona fide power forward after an impressive six-goal display against the Lions in the wet at the Gabba.
"He's proving to be a pretty good wet-weather player and we think he's going to be a very good player in any conditions," coach Chris Scott said.
"He's still improving but he was a real focal point for us, very strong and looked like he handled the conditions as well as any forward on the night."
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Geelong coach Chris Scott has revealed he had many doubts when he selected Tom Hawkins over Cam Mooney for the finals.
"It was either 'Moons' or 'Hawk', and I wasn't convinced 'Hawk' would do a better job," Scott said in a new book titled 'Greatness - Inside Geelong's Path to Premiership History'.
"But taking into account 100 different factors we decided to go with Hawk, not with any great confidence that we'd made the right decision."
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Geelong's hopes of a third flag in five years almost disappeared but Tom Hawkins came of age on the biggest stage of all with 9 marks and 3 goals in the 2011 grand final win over Collingwood.
"I suppose it's satisfying to give a little bit back to the Geelong footy club," Hawkins said.
"Without the support of the coaching staff and my teammates, I probably wouldn't be here today. I just love playing with this group down at Geelong. It's been a very special five years and this is one of the biggest highlights of my footy career."
Friday, 24 June 2011
Champion centre half-forward Wayne Carey has revealed he is keen to return to the AFL as a forward coach and says he can help Cats forward Tom Hawkins, in particular, improve his game.
"I went and watched Geelong and Carlton at Etihad Stadium [in round 9] and watched Hawkins play and straight away picked up two or three things he should be doing that he's not doing," Carey said.
"I don't think they're things he's not capable of, and I think they'd improve his game immensely."
Friday, 3 June 2011
Geelong skipper Cameron Ling says dumped forward Tom Hawkins needs to get to more contests to cement a place in the side.
"I think he's got to learn to get to more contests in a game and that's part of developing and becoming a better player - putting yourself in position more to influence the play," Ling said about Hawkins.
"And that's one of the things that the coaches have no doubt said to him. Go back, we want to see these couple of things, (if) you do them well you'll be straight back in the team."
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Geelong forward Tom Hawkins is likely to be sent back to the VFL after disappointing form.
"Tom's not playing the way that he would like to be playing and we'd like him to be playing," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
"But we've got really high standards and we're going to completely support Tom. He's important to our long-term plans, but he's not dominating games like we think he can."
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Geelong's Tom Hawkins will risk aggravating a foot injury by playing on this season.
"Tom's coming on really well and we expect him to play next week or the week after," Geelong coach Mark Thompson said.
"We didn't really know which way to go at the start but they have decided through all the specialists and Tom making the decision through his friends and family that he is going to play in one or two weeks."
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Young Geelong forward Steven Motlop will be sidelined for three months with a shoulder injury after being accidentally kneed in the back by teammate Tom Hawkins during the Cats' clash with Hawthorn.
Motlop, who had both shoulders rebuilt after being drafted in 2008, has avoided having to have a shoulder reconstruction and underwent a "bone moving" procedure this week instead.
Friday, 18 September 2009
Cats forward Tom Hawkins says his first taste of AFL finals has given him an even greater desire to win through to the grand final after Geelong beat the Bulldogs in their 2009 qualifying final.
"It was great being out there for my first final. It was a lot of fun and excitement and nerves," he said.
"It was good to get that one over and good to have a good win. Hopefully this weekend I can just play my role in the side, and that's all I can hope for."
Monday, 14 September 2009
Geelong forward Tom Hawkins has taken out the AFL Army Award for 2009 after his brilliant smother and subsequent chase and tackle in round 22 against Fremantle.
"Honestly, I am surprised but still honoured to win this fantastic award. The act that I have been recognised for was one that all players would try to do for their team each week," Hawkins said.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Geelong coach Mark Thompson says media criticism of Tom Hawkins and Mark Blake after the St Kilda clash is out of line.
The two Cats have borne the brunt of media scrutiny after performing below expectations in the home and away season's biggest contest.
Hawkins had five possessions while Blake struggled to match Saint game-breaker Michael Gardiner.
"In every game there are players that don't play well, but very rarely have I seen any criticism to this level," Thompson said.
"I'm not sure whether they are trying to push issues or not, but as far as we're concerned they are both young players, they are learning and they'll be better for the experience of playing in that game.
"The way they played, you'd expect they learned something and played better next time."
Monday, 6 July 2009
Geelong coach Mark Thompson has made no excuses for out-of-form forward Tom Hawkins, but insists he will stay in the team.
"He's got to play. We're going to play him," Thompson said.
"I just talked to him about how he was feeling and how he played, what happened out there and what he was thinking."
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Young Geelong forward Tom Hawkins will shoulder added responsibilities following Cameron Mooney's latest suspension.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Mark Thompson says young forward Tom Hawkins put in his best performance for the club in the Cats big win over the Lions.
Hawkins bagged three goals against Brisbane while tallying nine tackles and 20 disposals including 11 contested.
"I thought it was clearly the best game he's played," Thompson said.
"Although he's kicked more goals and everything else in some games, he was just involved in the game and looked like he was confident in running around and he knew what he was doing and he was having some influence.
"We would love for Hawk to play like that every week because he really looked like a comfortable, accomplished AFL player today."
Friday, 10 April 2009
Six kicks, three handballs, six marks and two goals on a night when you spend 85 per cent of the game on the ground is not a bad night at the office.
Nor is it a performance to set the world on fire. Unless you're Geelong's Tom Hawkins.
"We don't expect too much from Tommy," Cat forward Steve Johnson said.
"If he can come in and just play his role, if he's lucky enough to kick a couple of goals that's great. But if he can just play our structures, drag a good defender, take a couple of grabs, well, he's done his job."
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Geelong coach Mark Thompson says Tom Hawkins' early selection for Saturday's clash with Richmond is a rumour.
"I'm just trying to play down his expectations because everybody expects him to be something he's not ready to be," Thompson said.
Monday, 30 March 2009
Geelong forward Tom Hawkins is expected to be recalled to heap more pain on besieged Richmond on Saturday.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Cameron Mooney will miss the NAB Cup grand final with injury, setting up a Round 1 audition for Tom Hawkins and Tom Lonergan.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Geelong teaches its prized young key forward Tom Hawkins a new running style to proetct his long-term future.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Joel Selwood has dismissed concerns over Tom Hawkins' foot, saying he will take part in the NAB Cup.
"Tom's a picture of fitness at the moment, he's going really well," Selwood said.
"He's joined back in with the main group this week and we'll see him sometime in the NAB Cup."
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Geelong says it will continue its diligent management of forward Tom Hawkins during the pre-season, but expects him to be ready for the Cats' NAB Cup opener.
"We have been managing Tom's foot with a really good rehab program," Geelong assistant coach Brendan McCartney said.
"He is such an important player for us and we have had a lot of diligence with that (injury) for almost six or seven months now.
"We are going to stick to the program with him. His long-term future is more important to us than training him for the sake of it."