Tom Hawkins (footballer)

Infobox afl player NEW
playername = Tom Hawkins
fullname = Thomas Jack HawkinsRalph, J, [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21189197-11088,00.html "Cats' recruit Hawkins ignores hype"] , heraldsun.com.au, 8 February 2007, accessed 5 October 2007]
image capt = Tom Hawkins


birthdate = 27 July 1988
birthplace = Finley, New South Wales [http://www.triplem.com.au/brisbane/sport/afl/rising_star/tom_hawkins.html?.html "Tom Hawkins AFL NAB 2007 Rising Star Round 3 Nominee"] , TripleM.com.au, accessed 4 October 2007]
originalteam = Melbourne Grammar/Sandringham Dragons
draftpick = 41^st overall (father/son), 2006
Geelong Cats
heightweight = 197 cm / 105 kg
position = Full Forward/Centre Half Forward
currentclub = Geelong
guernsey = 26
years = 2007-
clubs = Geelong
games(goals) = 15 (22)
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = Round 6, 2008
careerhighlights =AFL
*AFL Rising Star Award Nominee 2007

Geelong Football Club
*VFL Premiership Player 2007

TAC Cup
*Larke Medal as MVP of 2006 U18 National Championships
*All Australian U/18 2006
*Vic Metro U/18 2006
*U/18 International Rules Series 2006
*AIS/AFL Academy Squad 2006

Thomas "Tom" Jack Hawkins (born 27 July 1988 in Finley, New South Wales),Ralph, J, [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21189197-11088,00.html "Cats' recruit Hawkins ignores hype"] , heraldsun.com.au, 8 February 2007, accessed 5 October 2007] is an Australian Rules footballer for the Geelong Cats. 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. [Brereton, D, [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20160989%255E5004902,00.html "Give Tom Hawkins a chance"] heraldsun.com.au, 18 August 2006, accessed 4 October 2007] [Johnson, L, [http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/cats-load-son-of-a-gun/2007/04/03/1175366241483.html "Cats licking their lips on Hawkins"] realfooty.com.au, 4 April 2007, accessed 5 October 2007] Former Carlton coach Dennis Pagan was famously moved to compare him to legendary Swans full-forward Tony Lockett after his debut game.Green, B, [http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/10/02/7452_gfc.html "Tomahawk's had a year to remember at Geelong"] geelongadvertiser.com.au, 2 October 2007, accessed 5 October 2007]

Early life

Born in Finley, New South Wales to Jack and Jenny Hawkins, Tom grew up in the New South Wales region of Finley as the middle child among three other siblings, attending Finley High School and playing for the Finley Football Club (known as the Finley Cats, as the club and town are located in the former Geelong recruiting zone) before making the move south of the border to begin boarding at Melbourne Grammar. There, his footballing ability was recognised early on, with Hawkins selected to play 1^st 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 proceeded to boot 4 goals on debut for the school, and soon his performances up forward began to garner 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 would be-Hawk, and good friend, Xavier Ellis, and was 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, winning 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. [Quayle, E, [http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/horsing-around-at-the-races/2006/01/09/1136771500383.html "Horsing around at the races"] realfooty.com.au, 10 January 2006, accessed 5 October 2007] 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". [Ralph, J, [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20031143%255E20322,00.html "Cats' 'new' Judd"] heraldsun.com.au, 6 August 2006, accessed 5 October 2007] 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. [Harris, R, [http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/sport/304737.html "Rising stars top honour"] Border Mail, 3 July 2006, accessed 5 October 2007] [ [http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news/features/the-super-draft/2006/06/30/1151174397480.html "The Super Draft"] , realfooty.com.au, 1 July 2006, accessed 22 December 2007] , due largely to the final game being played in heavy rain.

Career

By the end of 2006, Hawkins had signed a contract with the Geelong Cats and was named on the Cats' list in the first list lodgement of the 2007 AFL Season. [Gullan, S, [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19182578-11088,00.html "Cats jump at chance to snare Hawkins"] heraldsun.com.au, 19 May 2006, accessed 5 October 2007] 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.Niall, J, [http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news/afl/another-gun-of-a-son-to-follow-scarlett-and-ablett/2006/06/25/1151174073573.html "Another gun of a son to follow Scarlett and Ablett"] realfooty.com.au, 26 June 2006, accessed 5 October 2007] 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. [Gleeson, M, [http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news/afl/afl-to-consider-changes-to-fatherson-rule/2006/07/04/1151778938400.html "AFL to consider changes to father-son rule"] realfooty.com.au, 5 July 2006, accessed 5 October 2007]

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. [Heinrich, S, [http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/geelong/0,24746,21502561,00.html "Rising Cat: Tom Hawkins"] foxsports.com.au, accessed 4 October 2007] 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. [Jensen, B, [http://geelong.keldar.net/Articles/24012007_1.php "Tom Hawkins on the mend following stress fracture"] geelong.keldar.net, 24 January 2007, accessed 4 October 2007] [cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21101115-11088,00.html|title=Tom Hawkins suffers setback|author=Rebecca Williams|publisher=Herald Sun|date=2007-01-23|accessdate=2008-03-24]

Hawkins made his highly anticipated debut for the Geelong seniors in Round 2 of the 2007 season against Carlton. [Sheahan, M, [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21512855%255E20322,00.html "Geelong names Tom Hawkins"] heraldsun.com.au, 6 April 2007, accessed 4 October 2007] 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. [Robinson, M, [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21524557%255E19742,00.html "Hawkins lives up to hype"] , heraldsun.com.au, 9 April 2007, accessed 5 October 2007] 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. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200704/s1899020.htm "AFL recognises rising Hawkins"] abc.net.au, 17 April 2007, accessed 5 October 2007]

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.

Family links

Along with his father, Hawkins' uncles, Michael Hawkins and Robb Hawkins, 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. [Anderson, J, [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21581055%255E20117,00.html "Young cat has right pedigree"] heraldsun.com.au, 19 April 2007, accessed 5 October 2007]

Nickname

Hawkins' famous nickname 'Tomahawk', is a play on his first name and surname, with references to a tomahawk axe, and has proven a popular calling card within the league. [ [http://au.sports.yahoo.com/afl/news/matchreport/10190307 "Tomahawk slays Dees"] Yahoo! Sports, 9 May 2007, accessed 5 October 2007] Robinson, M, [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21537572-23211,00.html?from=public_rss "Cat's close the lid on kids"] heraldsun.com.au, 11 April 2007, accessed 5 October 2007] 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)".

tatistics

: "Statistics are correct as of 26 April, 2008 (Round 6)" [ [http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/T/Tom_Hawkins1.html "Tom Hawkins Statistics"] accessed 5 October 2007]

References

External links

*Geelplayer|ref=15607
*AflRleague|ref=T/Tom_Hawkins1.html