Announcing his retirement on Tuesday morning, Tom Hawkins is set to hang up the boots after an illustrious and loyal career at Geelong.
The New South Wales-born footballer has had a decorated career spanning 18 seasons, with 796 goals to his name. Hawkins broke the all-time Geelong games record, overtaking long-time teammate Joel Selwood earlier this year, and has the potential to become just the 12th player to kick 800 goals, if he can return from his foot injury suffered in Round 15.
A three-time premiership Cat, Coleman medallist and five-time All-Australian (including once as captain), we've reflected on the long career of Tom Hawkins, and determined his top performances.
10. Preliminary Final vs Brisbane (2022)
Having lost three preliminary finals since the 2011 premiership, winning just the one in 2020, Hawkins had been on the other side of the coin many times leading into the 2022 preliminary final.
A team in the twilight of its premiership window, Geelong boasted the oldest average age of any team in the competition, as players such as Joel Selwood and Isaac Smith reached the latter moments of their careers.
Hawkins lept at the opportunity however, his performance giving Geelong a final crack at a premiership in a decade-long period of home and away season excellence.
In a 71-point drubbing of Brisbane, Hawkins kicked four goals and three behinds, and produced a team-high 13 score involvements.
