Geelong legend Tom Hawkins has announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 season.
Hawkins goes out as a three time premiership winner in 2009, 2011 and 2022, and a five time All-Australian in 2012 and 2019-2022.
The big Cat was also the recipient of the 2020 Coleman Medal and the 2012 Carji Greeves Medallist as Geelong’s best and fairest.
As well as his Coleman year, Hawkins finished the top goal scorer in 2021 and 2022 after finals, underlining his remarkable consistency.
Recruited as a father/son selection in the 2006 draft following in his father Jack’s footsteps, Hawkins debuted early in 2007 but couldn’t regularly crack an extremely powerful Geelong side.
He was embedded enough in 2009 to kick two goals in the flag win over St Kilda, but Hawkins’ signature game was his breakout performance in the 2011 grand final.
Hawkins kicked three goals in the third quarter and took a string of contested marks in the final term as the Cats steamrolled a powerful Pies outfit by 38 points.
Listen to Triple M’s call of Tom Hawkins tearing apart the 2011 grand final here:
Hawkins also famously broke Hawthorn hearts with a 55m drop punt goal after the siren in 2012, a year in which he won the best and fairest and was named All-Australian for the first time.
The retiring Cat remained consistent for the rest of the decade before blossoming after turning 30, becoming the preeminent key forward in the competition as Geelong had a string of top four finishes between 2019 and 2022.
They finally converted those ladder placings to a long awaited 10th flag in 2022, with Hawkins kicking the first two goals of the game as the Cats cruised to an 81 point victory over Sydney.
As well as Tom Hawkins, Dustin Martin has announced his retirement today:
Hawkins is currently recuperating from his footy injury and will hope to be available for selection later in the season as the Cats look to confirm another top four finish.
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