TOM Hawkins reaches his 150-game milestone when the Cats host Gold Coast at Simonds Stadium on Sunday. Here are five of our favourite 'Tomahawk' performances ...
1. 2011 Grand Final, MCG:
Geelong 18.11 (119) def Collingwood 12.9 (81)
Hawk's stats: 19 disposals, 9 marks, 3 goals
Hawkins came of age in the 2011 decider. He monstered his opponent, Ben Reid, particularly in the second half, taking a number of towering marks and kicking three goals. He also dished a handball off to Steve Johnson in the last quarter, which Johnson snapped for a goal, and he figured prominently in the Norm Smith Medal voting.
2. Round 19, 2012, MCG:
Geelong 18.10 (118) def Hawthorn 17.14 (116)
Hawk's stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 6 goals
This was one of the greatest home and away games ever staged, and Hawkins played a starring role. He helped the Cats skip out to an early lead, then he kept them in it at the finish. And he was on the end of one of the most famous plays in the club's history when Joel Selwood found him with a pin-point pass on the 50m arc with just seconds remaining in the match. With Geelong trailing by four points, Hawkins calmly nailed a 52m shot after the siren to snatch an extraordinary win for his team. He was later awarded three Brownlow Medal votes for his performance.
3. Round 5, 2012, Gabba:
Geelong 12.7 (79) def Brisbane Lions 4.17 (41)
Hawk's stats: 11 disposals, 6 marks, 6 goals
Hawkins put on a clinic in a game played in wet and slippery conditions. He kicked half of the Cats' goals and was later rewarded with three votes in the Brownlow Medal.
4. Round 5, 2014, MCG:
Geelong 15.16 (106) def Hawthorn 12.15 (87)
Hawk's stats: 16 disposals, 10 marks, 5 goals
The big forward proved far too strong for his undersized opponent, Kyle Cheney, taking 10 marks, seven of which were contested. When Hawthorn threatened to steal the game in the last quarter, Hawkins took his game to a new level, standing tall with some big pack marks and three crucial goals. His performance earned him three Brownlow Medal votes.
5. Round 2, 2007, Etihad Stadium:
Geelong 24.18 (162) def Carlton 12.12 (84)
Hawk's stats: 8 disposals, six marks, three goals
Having been selected by the Cats under the father-son rule in the 2006 AFL Draft, Hawkins burst onto the AFL scene with three goals on debut against the Blues at Etihad Stadium. Then aged 18, Hawkins played on Carlton captain Lance Whitnall, overpowering his more experienced opponent and taking several strong marks. After the game, Blues coach Denis Pagan described Hawkins as the next Tony Lockett.
