Doug Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Doug Hawkins is a former Australian rules football
er in the VFL/AFL who made a name for himself in the media in his post-football career.
, and although he was a North Melbourne
supporter in his youth, competition zoning rules in effect prior to the adoption of a national draft, dictated that Hawkins' rights were 'zoned' to Footscray
, given his suburb of residence was nearby Braybrook
. He got his wish, making his VFL debut for Footscray in 1978 as a teenager.
, one of the wings of the ground was named the "Doug Hawkins Wing". Much has also been made about his rocky relationship with coach Mick Malthouse
during the 1980s, but during Hawkins' Australian Football Hall of Fame
induction ceremony in 2004, Hawkins played this down. In 1994, Hawkins broke Ted Whitten
's long-standing club record of 321 games for Footscray, and Whitten was on-hand to congratulate him.
, Hawkins' contract was not renewed, and so he moved to the financially strapped Fitzroy Football Club
for one last fine season in 1995, one year before the team folded. He played 21 games and kicked 11 goals for the club, before announcing his retirement.
Player honors:
's The Footy Show
during the mid-1990s, he was bagged mercilessly by Sam Newman
and Jason Dunstall
. In 1998, Hawkins moved to the Seven Network
and appeared on a Wednesday night rival to The Footy Show, Live and Kicking.
's Living with Footballers before it was axed at the end of 2004. They have three children – a son and two daughters. Doug currently resides in Darley which is a town in Bacchus Marsh, he also supports local football side Darley. He couches the Bacchus Marsh Cobra's
Under 16.5 side which his son Ricky plays for. The team won the 2011 Under 16.5 Seniors Ballarat Football League
premiership
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the VFL/AFL who made a name for himself in the media in his post-football career.
Early career
Hawkins hailed from the industrialised, working class western suburbs of MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and although he was a North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
supporter in his youth, competition zoning rules in effect prior to the adoption of a national draft, dictated that Hawkins' rights were 'zoned' to Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
, given his suburb of residence was nearby Braybrook
Braybrook, Victoria
Braybrook is a suburb 9 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Braybrook had a population of 6940....
. He got his wish, making his VFL debut for Footscray in 1978 as a teenager.
Footscray
Hawkins made a name for himself over the ensuing years as one of the finest wingers the game has ever seen, so much so that at the team's home ground, the Western OvalWhitten Oval
Whitten Oval is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located at 417 Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administrative headquarters of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, which competes in the Australian Football League.Formerly known as the...
, one of the wings of the ground was named the "Doug Hawkins Wing". Much has also been made about his rocky relationship with coach Mick Malthouse
Mick Malthouse
Michael "Mick" Malthouse is a former Australian rules footballer and the former coach of the Collingwood Football Club.While his playing career included a premiership for Richmond in the VFL, he is best known for his Australian Football League coaching career.Malthouse is the most successful coach...
during the 1980s, but during Hawkins' Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
induction ceremony in 2004, Hawkins played this down. In 1994, Hawkins broke Ted Whitten
Ted Whitten
Edward James "EJ" Whitten was an Australian rules football player and media personality. He played a then-record 321 Victorian Football League games for the Footscray Football Club between 1951 and 1970...
's long-standing club record of 321 games for Footscray, and Whitten was on-hand to congratulate him.
Fitzroy
However, after playing 329 games and kicking 216 goals for the BulldogsWestern Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
, Hawkins' contract was not renewed, and so he moved to the financially strapped Fitzroy Football Club
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
for one last fine season in 1995, one year before the team folded. He played 21 games and kicked 11 goals for the club, before announcing his retirement.
Career highlights
Playing career:- 1978–1995 (Games: 350, Goals: 227)
- Footscray 1978–1994 (Games: 329, Goals: 216)
- Fitzroy 1995 (Games: 21, Goals: 11)
Player honors:
- Foots/WB Team of the Century
Media career
Off the field, Hawkins was known as an old-fashioned Aussie larrikin, someone who himself acknowledged he was not one of the smartest people going around, but was always up for a laugh. As a panel member of the Nine NetworkNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's The Footy Show
The AFL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award winning Australian sports television program, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates.This show, which is dedicated to the AFL and Australian rules football, made its debut on 24 March 1994 at the same time as the other version which relates to the NRL and rugby...
during the mid-1990s, he was bagged mercilessly by Sam Newman
Sam Newman
John Noel William "Sam" Newman is a retired Australian rules football player and current television personality. He is a featured presenter on the AFL version of The Footy Show.-VFL career:...
and Jason Dunstall
Jason Dunstall
Jason Hadfield Dunstall is a former Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club of the AFL. He is the third greatest goalkicker in the history of the VFL/AFL. Dunstall is regarded as one of the greatest full-forwards to have ever played, kicking 1254 goals, a feat only...
. In 1998, Hawkins moved to the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
and appeared on a Wednesday night rival to The Footy Show, Live and Kicking.
Personal life
Hawkins is married to Raelene, who appeared on Fox FootyFox Footy
Fox Footy is an upcoming Australian Rules football subscription television channel dedicated to screening Australian rules football matches and related programming. It will be owned by Premier Media Group, operated out of their Melbourne based studios and available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus...
's Living with Footballers before it was axed at the end of 2004. They have three children – a son and two daughters. Doug currently resides in Darley which is a town in Bacchus Marsh, he also supports local football side Darley. He couches the Bacchus Marsh Cobra's
Bacchus Marsh Football Club
Bacchus Marsh Football and Netball Club, is located in Bacchus Marsh and competes in the Ballarat Football League which is part of the Victorian Country Football League.The home ground of Bacchus Marsh is Maddingley Park, located to the south of Bacchus Marsh....
Under 16.5 side which his son Ricky plays for. The team won the 2011 Under 16.5 Seniors Ballarat Football League
Ballarat Football League
The Ballarat Football League is an Australian rules football competition that operates in the Ballarat region of Victoria, Australia.The competition formed in 1893 as the Ballarat Football Association and was renamed Ballarat Football League in 1908 and was briefly known as the Ballarat-Wimmera...
premiership