AFL 2020: Tom Hawkins monsters Port Adelaide in season’s ‘most imposing’ performance

Geelong star Tom Hawkins has produced the best game by any player this season as he shattered records and devastated Port Adelaide.

Tom Hawkins monstered Port Adelaide.

Geelong superstar Tom Hawkins has produced the scariest performance of the 2020 season as he manhandled Port Adelaide to send a clear message that the Cats are the real deal this year.

Hawkins kicked six goals and became just the third player this season to record more than 200-ranking points to leave Port Adelaide shell-shocked in a 60-point thumping.

In a match spruiked as a showdown between Port Adelaide power forward Charlie Dixon and Hawkins, the Geelong superstar brutally put Dixon in his place as he snatched nine marks inside 50 on a night where the entire Port Adelaide team combined for just two marks inside the forward arc.

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The 32-year-old was simply unstoppable in the 14.7 (91) to 4.7 (31) anihilation.

“It was the most imposing forward game we’ve seen, dare I say since we say you two playing,” footy legend Garry Lyon told Fox Footy in a conversation with Brisbane legend Jonathan Brown and Saints champion Nick Riewoldt.

“Tom Hawkins played the best game of any player this season, according to any other measure you want to look at.

“He monstered anyone that came within 20m of him.”

Brown responded: “It was the most imposing game of anyone this year”.

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Geelong look very much the real deal.

Hawkins finished the first half with 111 ranking points, while Dixon sat at -1 with Port failing to take a mark inside fifty until deep in the third quarter.

His haul of 200 ranking points sees him become just the 15th ever forward to reach the milestone — and he did it in a season where quarters have been slashed from 20 minutes to 16 minutes.

His seven one-on-one marks when competing against his direct opponent is reported by Fox Footy to be a record since the statistic was first kept by Champion Data.

“That’s as good a half of football you’ll see from anybody, let alone a key forward where it’s normally more difficult,” Brown said at half time.

Cats coach Chris Scott Tom Hawkins said Hawkins has in the past 12 months worked his way back into the best shape of his career, making a mockery of his age.

Hawkins’ haul of 6.2 comfortably outscored Port Adelaide on a night where both Tom Clurey and Tom Jonas were tormented by the star forward.

Hawkins is now six goals clear with 30 goals this season — ahead of Coleman Medal rival Josh Kennedy who is behind on 24.

Channel 7 commentator Bruce McAvaney said Hawkins was deserving of six Brownlow votes if the umpires were allowed to hand out that many.

Tom Hawkins was fire.

The flip side for the Cats is that Hawkins’ performance has caused speculation to explode about his future.

Hawkins is out of contract at the end of the 2020 season — and his stunning form this season could force Geelong to offer him a two-year extension with rival clubs now expected to try their luck with similar multi-year deals — should the Cats hold firm on a reported one-year extension offer.

Hawkins declared in July he intends to play on in 2021 — and his form means that is now a necessity.

His dominance has helped Geelong to two back-to-back statement wins over highly fancied opponents, giving wake up calls to both St Kilda and Port Adelaide in August.

The win has seen the Cats climb up to second on the AFL ladder and are now breathing down the Power’s neck.

Originally published as AFL 2020: Tom Hawkins monsters Port Adelaide in season’s ‘most imposing’ performance