If there is one player who doesn’t care about individual statistics, it’s the newly re-signed Cats full forward Tom Hawkins, but as he prepares to go around for his 17th season, there are a few League and club records under threat, and a few more leaderboards he’s set to climb
Here are eight to keep an eye on when season 2023 comes around:
Most Wins
Hawkins has currently played in 235 victories over his 327 games. Next season should see him pass Kangaroo Brent Harvey (235) and Carlton's Bruce Doull (238) and put him in striking distance of Joel Selwood (259) if one year becomes two.
After that, it’s Tiger Kevin Bartlett (260), and Hawks' Shaun Burgoyne (263), and Michael Tuck (302)
Most Finals Series
If the Cats claw their way to September again in 2023, Hawkins (13 finals series played) will draw level with Collingwood’s Gordon Coventry and Carlton’s Rod McGregor (14) for equal second all-time. Only Selwood, Tuck, and Magpie Dick Lee (15) would have played more.
Most Finals Played
Similar to the above. Selwood (40), Tuck (39), and Burgoyne (35) are currently on the podium, but Hawkins (32) isn’t far behind. A jump on this list of any kind would mean something very good has happened.
50 Goals In a Season
He kicked 67 last season so there’s no reason he can’t do it again. If he does, that’ll draw him level with Tiger Jack Riewoldt who has done it nine times, and within one season of Richmond's Jack Titus, Hawthorn's Leigh Matthews, Essendon's Matthew Lloyd and Blue Stephen Kernahan (10).
Cats’ Gary Ablett and Doug Wade each did it 11 times, while legendary Saint/Swan Tony Locket sits at the top of the tree, having done it 14 times.
Career Goals
Gary Ablett Snr’s record for career goals for a Cat (1021) will likely never be broken, but it’s the race for second that could get interesting. Currently, Hawkins (732 goals) is 102 goals behind Doug Wade (834). Could he?
Goal Assists
Hawkins's 273 career goal assists place him second all-time behind current Cats assistant coach Eddie Betts on 318. It’s an extraordinary number for someone who has also kicked 732 career goals. For the record, he had 27 of them this season and has had more than 20 every year since 2017.
Most Contested Marks
His 600 contested marks over 327 games see him in second place all-time behind Nick Riewoldt’s 645. It might take another season or two to catch him, but it’s not out of the question.
Most Marks Inside 50
Currently, St.Kilda's Nick Riewoldt (1017) has taken the most marks inside 50 ever, but Sydney’s Lance Frankin (1016) and Hawkins (998) are hot on his heels in second and third place respectively. Both players average around three a game, so at some point, it’ll be one of theirs.
