Mark Robinson: Tom Hawkins pays the price for his clumsy strike on Will Schofield
It’s a shame Tom Hawkins is set to miss Geelong's preliminary final against Richmond, but it’s his own fault — and his actions after the hit gave the game away, writes Mark Robinson.
Mark Robinson
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Tom Hawkins was sheepish.
He clobbered Will Schofield with a round-arm to the head in the third quarter and tried to help Schofield to his feet.
It’s always a giveaway.
The guilty mostly react to their actions and big Tommy knew his clumsy, aggressive swipe had crossed the line.
Schofield went down, the cameras went to Schofield and so did Hawkins.
The intention may have been to be less violent, but the cost is absolute — a week suspension from the AFL’s match review officer.
Pending a Geelong appeal, Hawkins most likely won’t play next week, which is a shame for him because he is one of the main reasons why the Cats will take on Richmond in a preliminary final blockbuster.
But is it a shame or does he deserve it?
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For anyone to miss a prelim is a major disappointment, but, let’s be honest, Hawkins knows how to find trouble.
They aren’t always over-the-top offences, a silly swipe here or wayward elbow there, but the effort on Friday night forced the MRO to get his gun from his holster, which hasn’t been Michael Christian’s go since mid-year.
From behind, Hawkins swung his right arm into the side of Schofield’s head.
It was behind the play, which means it was intentional, and Schofield was knocked to the ground.
The positive is he got back up, blood was not drawn and he played out the game.
It wasn’t a good look, but neither was Toby Greene’s interaction with the face of Marcus Bontempelli last week and Greene is playing on Saturday.
We don’t know what Hawkins thought of the contact because, after the siren, he wasn’t asked about it on Channel 7.
“We wanted to go out and throw first punch,’’ he said of the first-quarter domination.
He could easily have been talking about his swipe to Schofield, but curiously, he wasn’t even asked about the biggest incident of the game.
How could he not be?
Did commentator Daisy Pearce not do her job, or was she told to the skip the awkward questioning?
The Hawkins incident was the flash point on a superb night for Geelong. He kicked four goals including the first of the match, and two in the tense final quarter.
Under pressure each and every one of them, and not least the coach Chris Scott and, more pointedly, Hawkins after three consecutive matches without kicking a goal; the Cats were hard, efficient and creative from the outset.
They did disappear somewhat for 30 minutes during the second and third quarters and then won the final quarter.
They looked ready for the taking in that third quarter when ruckman Tom Hickey kicked the Eagles clear by seven points, but these Cats rejected talk of straight sets.
It was a resilient performance from Geelong and serious coaching from Scott.
He started Rhys Stanley in the ruck, as expected, but started his All-Australian fullback on the wing, which was not expected. Neither decision hurt the Cats.
From the start, they were synched into finals football.
Geelong’s first 11 minutes last week against Collingwood is in footy folklore for its lethargy and disappointment — yet again in a final.
Their first 9½ minutes could not have been more contrasting.
They led 18-0 and the monkey on the back, which had grown to a gorilla after the Collingwood defeat, was now looking like a Gypsy Marmoset, the smallest monkey in the world.
At quarter-time, it was 5.2 to 1.1 At one stage it was 32-4.
But then the finals gorilla returned. By halftime it was 7.3 to 5.5, before Hickey’s goal in the third quarter put them in front.
Geelong won because it refused to yield to West Coast and several of its players had a huge impact.
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Joel Selwood was masterful, mainly early, in a role where he played mainly outside. He had 21 uncontested and five contested possessions.
Patrick Dangerfield and Elliot Yeo was the match-up of the night. Yeo won the first half and Dangerfield the second. His final quarter was telling.
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Cam Guthrie, who missed last week with injury, was also critical between the arcs, so too Zach Tuohy, as was key forward Esava Ratugolea.
His attack in the air was exceptional for its power and produce, and he will cause concern for Richmond’s defence.
How much concern depends on what happens to Hawkins. Ratugolea kicked three goals and took four contested marks, and he will be required to be the main key forward against the Tigers if Hawkins misses.
That’s a big ask.
Originally published as Mark Robinson: Tom Hawkins pays the price for his clumsy strike on Will Schofield