Geelong veteran Tom Hawkins will call the 2024 season his last after announcing he will retire at the cessation of his 18th campaign with the Cats.
The champion key forward informed teammates of his decision on Tuesday morning.
Hawkins, who is currently sidelined with a foot injury, still has a chance to add to his club-record 359 games in the blue and white hoops should he return to the field either at the end of the home and away season or through the finals, should Geelong secure a top eight finish.
The 36-year-old will end his career as an 11-time leading goalkicker for Geelong, currently sitting third on the club's all-time list with 796 goals to his name.
Hawkins is also a five-time All-Australian, a Carji Greeves Medal winner, a Coleman Medal winner and a three-time premiership player - having won flags in 2009, 2011 and 2022.
He joined the club through the 2006 National Draft as a father-son selection at Pick 41, following in the footsteps of his dad Jack to play for the Cats.
โTom 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,โ Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said in a club statement.
โHe 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.
โWe thank Tom, his wife Emma, and their children Arabella, Primrose and Henry for all they've given our Club.โ
Hawkins could add to his 32 career finals matches with a late-season return from injury, with his current tally good for fourth all-time behind only close friend Joel Selwood (4), Hawthorn great Michael Tuck (39) and AFL legend Shaun Burgoyne (35).
Hawkins has booted 46 or more goals in 12 separate seasons to sit 13th for all-time goals on the V/AFL leaderboard. A further four goals would see him level Richmond champion Matthew Richardson on 800 goals.
The veteran forward was appointed captain of the All-Australian side in 2022 and was a member of Geelong's VFL premiership team in his debut season of 2007.
Hawkins has played 12 games this year for a return of 15 goals.
