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Tom Hawkins (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Jack Hawkins (born 27 July 1988 in Finley
, New South Wales
) is an Australian rules football
er for the Geelong Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). The eldest son of former Geelong
champion 'Jumpin' Jack Hawkins
, Hawkins was drafted by Geelong
under the father-son draft rule
and wears the number 26 jumper made famous by his father.
Acknowledged as having endured one of the most hyped and publicised entrances into the AFL
in recent times, Hawkins has established a reputation as one of the brightest young key forward prospects in the game, where his man-boy physique and unusual combination of size, strength, and footballing ability have impressed many. Former Carlton
coach Dennis Pagan was famously moved to compare him to legendary Swans
full-forward Tony Lockett
after his debut game.
to Jack
and Jenny Hawkins, Tom grew up in the New South Wales
region of Finley
as the middle child among three other siblings. He attended Finley High School
and played for the Finley Football Club
before making the move south of the border to begin boarding at Melbourne Grammar School
. Hawkins' footballing ability was recognised early on when he was selected to play 1st XVIII football for the school whilst still in Year 10, when many of his teammates were completing their final year of schooling at Year 12. Hawkins kicked 4 goals on debut for the school, and his performances up forward soon garnerned outside attention from AFL
recruiting teams. By the time Tom had reached his final school year, he was rewarded with joint captaincy of the football team alongside Hawthorn
draftee Xavier Ellis
. He was also selected in the Associated Public Schools
(APS) team to play the Associated Grammar School
(AGS) selected football team in the traditional annual clash of schools, where he won best on ground honours for his performance.
Having gained permission to join local U/18 club the Sandringham Dragons for numerous games during the season, Hawkins impressed in his limited appearances within the elite TAC Cup
competition, highlighted by a 22 disposal, 9 mark, and 5 goal effort in just his third game. In 2006, he was awarded an AIS
/AFL Academy Scholarship as part of the 9th intake. The scholarship, awarded to outstanding young athletes entering the last year of their junior football development, saw Hawkins participate in several training camps, capped off with representation for Australia in the U/18 International Rules Series
, before completing his summer training with the Geelong Football Club
.
In the mid-year of 2006, Hawkins was selected to play in the 2006 Under 18's National Championships, lining up at full forward for Vic Metro. A best on ground performance which yielded 12 marks and 6 goals in the opening match against South Australia began a wave of unprecedented hype and attention, with Hawkins drawing comparisons to Brisbane Lion Jonathan Brown and leading Vic Metro coach David Dickson to declare the young forward as "the best footballer I've seen...since Chris Judd
". Hawkins was awarded the Larke Medal as the MVP within Division 1 and named as the tournament's All-Australian full-forward, just falling short of the all-time contested marking record held by Justin Koschitzke
.
and was named on the Cats' list in the first list lodgement of the 2007 AFL Season
. Hawkins was officially selected by Geelong in the 2006 AFL Draft
under the father-son rule
. Whilst many pundits lauded him as the best key position prospect within the draft, and felt Hawkins' junior performances warranted possible selection with the top overall pick, the father-son
ruling only demanded a middle-tier 3rd Round pick surrendering by the Cats. The subsequent controversy over what was widely acknowledged as a bargain gain for the Cats led to the AFL
amending the father-son
ruling for future use.
With a reputation as one of the finest young tall forwards in the land, Hawkins was immediately billed as the successor to the legendary Gary Ablett, whose retirement 10 years earlier had left a gaping hole in the Cats' forward line. A stress reaction injury to his right leg, however, halted Hawkins' pre-season, forcing his much-awaited debut in Geelong colours to take place in the VFL
side.
Hawkins made his highly anticipated debut for the Geelong seniors in Round 2 of the 2007 season against Carlton
. Opposed to Carlton
Captain Lance Whitnall
, Hawkins impressed with 3 goals and several strong marks in the Cats' 78 point victory, prompting Carlton coach Denis Pagan
to label him the next Tony Lockett
. Other revered media figures, such as Gerard Healy
and David Parkin
, were moved enough to describe the debut as the best first-up performance in recent memory. Uncommonly for AFL debutants, he followed up with an even more impressive performance in his second game, kicking 4 first half goals to help set up a victory against Melbourne
at the MCG, earning the AFL Rising Star nomination for Round 3 in the process.
Question marks, however, were raised over his fitness and ability to run out entire games, and after 9 games in his debut season, which saw him boot 12 goals, Hawkins saw out the rest of the year with the clubs' VFL
side. There, Hawkins helped the Cats' reach the VFL
Grand Final for the second successive year, booting 3 goals as the Cats defeated the Coburg Tigers
to claim their first VFL Premiership
since 2002.
alongside other father/son selections Gary Ablett
, Matthew Scarlett
and Mark Blake. Hawkins scored 2 goals in the game to help Geelong defeat St Kilda by 12 points and capture the 2009 AFL premiership. (One of those goals was notably controversial, as it was ruled as such after it had bounced off a goal post; under the rules of Australian football, such a kick should have been ruled a behind.)
finishing the day with 19 disposals, 9 marks, 3 goals (all in the 3rd quarter), and his 2nd Premiership Medallion.
Individual
, both played senior football for Geelong. Similarly, a grandfather on his mother Jenny's side, Fred Le Deux, played 18 games with the Cats from 1956-58.
, and has proven a popular calling card within the league. Its origins were, for a period of time, much disputed, with journalists' Mike Sheahan
and Mark Robinson both claiming authorship. References have also been recorded by several club recruiters, one of which claimed "You will have to play with an axe on him (to stop him)".
Finley, New South Wales
Finley is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest town in the Berrigan Shire Local Government Area. At the 2006 census, Finley had a population of 2,054 people....
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
) is an Australian rules football
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 for the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). The eldest son of former Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
champion 'Jumpin' Jack Hawkins
Jack Hawkins (footballer)
Jack Hawkins is a former Australian Rules footballer who played 182 games for Geelong from 1973 to 1981. He is the father of current Geelong forward Tom Hawkins and the son-in-law of former Geelong player Fred Le Deux....
, Hawkins was drafted by Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
under the father-son draft rule
Father-son rule
The father-son rule is a rule that allows clubs to select the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team in Australian rules football, most notably the Australian Football League...
and wears the number 26 jumper made famous by his father.
Acknowledged as having endured one of the most hyped and publicised entrances into the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
in recent times, Hawkins has established a reputation as one of the brightest young key forward prospects in the game, where his man-boy physique and unusual combination of size, strength, and footballing ability have impressed many. Former Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
coach Dennis Pagan was famously moved to compare him to legendary Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
full-forward Tony Lockett
Tony Lockett
Anthony Howard "Tony" Lockett is a former Australian rules football player. Lockett is the highest goal scorer in the history of the VFL/AFL with 1,360 goals in a career of 281 games, that commenced in 1983 with the St Kilda Football Club, and finished in 2002 with the Sydney Swans...
after his debut game.
Early life
Born in Finley, New South WalesFinley, New South Wales
Finley is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest town in the Berrigan Shire Local Government Area. At the 2006 census, Finley had a population of 2,054 people....
to Jack
Jack Hawkins (footballer)
Jack Hawkins is a former Australian Rules footballer who played 182 games for Geelong from 1973 to 1981. He is the father of current Geelong forward Tom Hawkins and the son-in-law of former Geelong player Fred Le Deux....
and Jenny Hawkins, Tom grew up in the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
region of Finley
Finley, New South Wales
Finley is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest town in the Berrigan Shire Local Government Area. At the 2006 census, Finley had a population of 2,054 people....
as the middle child among three other siblings. He attended Finley High School
Finley High School
Finley High School is a school with 486 students, located in Finley in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia.The schools has an award-winning Show Team, which shows sheep and cattle. They also receive exceptional School Certificate and HSC results...
and played for the Finley Football Club
Finley Football Club
The Finley Football Club, nicknamed the Cats, is an Australian Rules Football club playing in the Murray Football League.The club is based in the town of Finley located in the Riverina district of New South Wales....
before making the move south of the border to begin boarding at Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. Hawkins' footballing ability was recognised early on when he was selected to play 1st XVIII football for the school whilst still in Year 10, when many of his teammates were completing their final year of schooling at Year 12. Hawkins kicked 4 goals on debut for the school, and his performances up forward soon garnerned outside attention from AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
recruiting teams. By the time Tom had reached his final school year, he was rewarded with joint captaincy of the football team alongside Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
draftee Xavier Ellis
Xavier Ellis
Xavier Ellis is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League...
. He was also selected in the Associated Public Schools
Associated Public Schools of Victoria
The Associated Public Schools of Victoria are a group of eleven elite independent schools in Victoria, Australia, similar to the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales in New South Wales....
(APS) team to play the Associated Grammar School
Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria
The Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria are a group of nine independent schools in Victoria, Australia, formed in 1920. The AGSV provides the basis for interschool sporting competition between the nine member schools in a range of sports....
(AGS) selected football team in the traditional annual clash of schools, where he won best on ground honours for his performance.
Having gained permission to join local U/18 club the Sandringham Dragons for numerous games during the season, Hawkins impressed in his limited appearances within the elite TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
competition, highlighted by a 22 disposal, 9 mark, and 5 goal effort in just his third game. In 2006, he was awarded an AIS
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
/AFL Academy Scholarship as part of the 9th intake. The scholarship, awarded to outstanding young athletes entering the last year of their junior football development, saw Hawkins participate in several training camps, capped off with representation for Australia in the U/18 International Rules Series
International Rules Series
The International Rules Series is a senior men's International rules football competition between the Australia international rules football team and the Ireland international rules football team...
, before completing his summer training with the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
.
In the mid-year of 2006, Hawkins was selected to play in the 2006 Under 18's National Championships, lining up at full forward for Vic Metro. A best on ground performance which yielded 12 marks and 6 goals in the opening match against South Australia began a wave of unprecedented hype and attention, with Hawkins drawing comparisons to Brisbane Lion Jonathan Brown and leading Vic Metro coach David Dickson to declare the young forward as "the best footballer I've seen...since Chris Judd
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
". Hawkins was awarded the Larke Medal as the MVP within Division 1 and named as the tournament's All-Australian full-forward, just falling short of the all-time contested marking record held by Justin Koschitzke
Justin Koschitzke
Justin Gregory Koschitzke is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Career overview:Recruited in the 2000 AFL Draft at pick number two, there were high expectations on Koschitzke from a young age...
.
2007: Debut
By the end of 2006, Hawkins had signed a contract with GeelongGeelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and was named on the Cats' list in the first list lodgement of the 2007 AFL Season
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
. Hawkins was officially selected by Geelong in the 2006 AFL Draft
2006 AFL Draft
The 2006 AFL Draft is a recent national draft of the Australian Football League. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League....
under the father-son rule
Father-son rule
The father-son rule is a rule that allows clubs to select the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team in Australian rules football, most notably the Australian Football League...
. Whilst many pundits lauded him as the best key position prospect within the draft, and felt Hawkins' junior performances warranted possible selection with the top overall pick, the father-son
Father-son rule
The father-son rule is a rule that allows clubs to select the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team in Australian rules football, most notably the Australian Football League...
ruling only demanded a middle-tier 3rd Round pick surrendering by the Cats. The subsequent controversy over what was widely acknowledged as a bargain gain for the Cats led to the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
amending the father-son
Father-son rule
The father-son rule is a rule that allows clubs to select the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team in Australian rules football, most notably the Australian Football League...
ruling for future use.
With a reputation as one of the finest young tall forwards in the land, Hawkins was immediately billed as the successor to the legendary Gary Ablett, whose retirement 10 years earlier had left a gaping hole in the Cats' forward line. A stress reaction injury to his right leg, however, halted Hawkins' pre-season, forcing his much-awaited debut in Geelong colours to take place in the VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
side.
Hawkins made his highly anticipated debut for the Geelong seniors in Round 2 of the 2007 season against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. Opposed to Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
Captain Lance Whitnall
Lance Whitnall
Lance Whitnall is a former Australian rules footballer, and the ex-captain of the Carlton Football Club.-Early career :...
, Hawkins impressed with 3 goals and several strong marks in the Cats' 78 point victory, prompting Carlton coach Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan is a former Australian rules football coach and player in the VFL/AFL. He is current coach of Northern Knights in TAC Cup.-Playing career:...
to label him the next Tony Lockett
Tony Lockett
Anthony Howard "Tony" Lockett is a former Australian rules football player. Lockett is the highest goal scorer in the history of the VFL/AFL with 1,360 goals in a career of 281 games, that commenced in 1983 with the St Kilda Football Club, and finished in 2002 with the Sydney Swans...
. Other revered media figures, such as Gerard Healy
Gerard Healy
Gerard Healy is a former Australian rules footballer and commentator.Healy attended St Bede's College in Mentone, where he was the Senior Football Captain.-Melbourne Demons:...
and David Parkin
David Parkin
David Parkin is a former Australian rules footballer and four-time premiership coach.- Pre-football career :He attended Melbourne High School and during his time there, was the school vice-captain and captain of football....
, were moved enough to describe the debut as the best first-up performance in recent memory. Uncommonly for AFL debutants, he followed up with an even more impressive performance in his second game, kicking 4 first half goals to help set up a victory against Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
at the MCG, earning the AFL Rising Star nomination for Round 3 in the process.
Question marks, however, were raised over his fitness and ability to run out entire games, and after 9 games in his debut season, which saw him boot 12 goals, Hawkins saw out the rest of the year with the clubs' VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
side. There, Hawkins helped the Cats' reach the VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
Grand Final for the second successive year, booting 3 goals as the Cats defeated the Coburg Tigers
Coburg Tigers
Coburg Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club based in Coburg, a northern suburb of Melbourne, and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. Coburg have an alignment in place with the AFL's Richmond Football Club which saw the Coburg club change its...
to claim their first VFL Premiership
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
since 2002.
2009: Premiership success
Hawkins participated in the 2009 AFL Grand Final2009 AFL Grand Final
The 2009 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the St Kilda Football Club and the Geelong Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 September 2009...
alongside other father/son selections Gary Ablett
Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr. is a professional Australian rules football player and current captain of the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
, Matthew Scarlett
Matthew Scarlett
Matthew Scarlett is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League . A fullback, tall and weighing , Scarlett is the eldest son of former Geelong footballer John Scarlett....
and Mark Blake. Hawkins scored 2 goals in the game to help Geelong defeat St Kilda by 12 points and capture the 2009 AFL premiership. (One of those goals was notably controversial, as it was ruled as such after it had bounced off a goal post; under the rules of Australian football, such a kick should have been ruled a behind.)
2011: Premiership success
Hawkins played in the 2011 AFL Grand Final2011 AFL Grand Final
The 2011 Australian Football League Grand Final was an Australian rules football match, played to determine the premiers of the 2011 season. It was contested between the Collingwood Football Club and the Geelong Football Club....
finishing the day with 19 disposals, 9 marks, 3 goals (all in the 3rd quarter), and his 2nd Premiership Medallion.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct as of 9 May 2009 (Round 7)
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Disposals | Kicks | Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Tackles | Goals | Behinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 2009 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:... |
Geelong | 26 | 24 | 11.6 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.7 |
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
Geelong | 26 | 10 | 11.9 | 7.1 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| 2007 2007 AFL season The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... |
Geelong | 26 | 9 | 8.6 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Career Averages | 11.0 | 6.3 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 | |||
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Disposals | Kicks | Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Tackles | Goals | Behinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 2009 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:... |
Geelong | 26 | 24 | 278 | 148 | 130 | 131 | 56 | 34 | 17 |
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
Geelong | 26 | 6 | 119 | 71 | 48 | 51 | 15 | 13 | 5 |
| 2007 2007 AFL season The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... |
Geelong | 26 | 9 | 77 | 52 | 25 | 33 | 9 | 12 | 10 |
| Career Totals | 43 | 474 | 271 | 203 | 215 | 80 | 59 | 32 | ||
Honours and achievements
Team- AFL Premiership (Geelong): 2009, 2011
- AFL McClelland Trophy (Geelong): 2007, 2008
- AFL NAB Cup (Geelong): 2009
- VFL Premiership (Geelong): 2007
Individual
- AFL Army Award winner: 2009
- AFL Rising Star Award nominee: 2007
Family links
Along with his father, Hawkins' uncles, Michael Hawkins and Robb HawkinsRobb Hawkins
Robb Hawkins is a former Australian rules footballer, playing with Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League and South Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League....
, both played senior football for Geelong. Similarly, a grandfather on his mother Jenny's side, Fred Le Deux, played 18 games with the Cats from 1956-58.
Nickname
Hawkins' famous nickname 'Tomahawk', is a play on his first name and surname, with references to a tomahawk axeTomahawk (axe)
A tomahawk is a type of axe native to North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a straight shaft. The name came into the English language in the 17th century as a transliteration of the Powhatan word.Tomahawks were general purpose tools used by Native Americans and European Colonials...
, and has proven a popular calling card within the league. Its origins were, for a period of time, much disputed, with journalists' Mike Sheahan
Mike Sheahan
Michael "Mike" Sheahan is an Australian journalist who specialises in Australian rules football. He is Chief Football Writer and Associate Sports Editor for the Herald Sun, a panelist on the Fox Sports program "On the Couch" and former Media Director for the VFL .Sheahan attended Werribee High...
and Mark Robinson both claiming authorship. References have also been recorded by several club recruiters, one of which claimed "You will have to play with an axe on him (to stop him)".