Tom Hawkins has built an incredible legacy in the number 26 guernsey, and his influence has extended to the AFLW with Claudia Gunjaca wearing the number in honour of one of her childhood heroes.
Hawkins is into his 18th season with the Cats, breaking the club games record this year while moving into 13th place on the all-time goal kicking.
The storied career of the big forward includes three premierships, a Coleman Medal, five All-Australian selections and a Carji Greeves Medal.
Gunjaca joined the Cats AFLW program in 2022, quickly developing into one of the competition’s best one on one defenders.
On the launch episode of Yeah the Girls Season 2, Gunjaca told the story of how Hawkins inspired her to wear the number 26.
"Back in grade three, Tom Hawkins came to my school at Kardinia College,” Gunjaca said.
“He was drafted that year, my dad was telling me all about his dad, Jumping Jack Hawkins the night before so I was so hyped up and ready for Tom Hawkins to come to my school the next day.
“He came along, we had a goal kicking competition and it came down to me and one other boy out of all the grade three students.
“Tom put him off on his last kick and helped me win, so since then Tom Hawkins had been one of my favourite players.
“When the opportunity came to take the number 26 at Geelong I thought I would.
“It is a memory I will never forget, that shows the impact that you have on everyone's lives that really love and enjoy watching you play."
Gunjaca is joining Becky Webster and Georgie Rankin as co-host of the Cats AFLW Podcast, ‘Yeah the Girls’ for their second season in 2024.
Hawkins joined the podcast as a special guest on Saturday night, sharing his own experiences as a junior footballer and his early memories of the Geelong Football Club.
“I remember as kid I was a Geelong supporter growing up, I came to a young members day in the early 2000's here,” Hawkins said.
“Steven King made a big impression on me just randomly when he was captain, then subsequently played with him a few years later and now he is one of my coaches.
“It is incredible when we are in a position we are in, playing professional sport that it is a really important part of what we do, having conversations and experiences like that.
“I never forget the experiences that I had with Geelong people.”
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