Geelong forward Shannon Neale on ‘tough’ time keeping Tom Hawkins out of the side and his contract

As Shannon Neale started to blossom, Cats champion Tom Hawkins was fighting to return from injury. The emerging forward reflects on that time and gives a contract update.

Emerging Geelong forward Shannon Neale admits the back-end of his promising 2024 season was “tough” as he fought to keep champion Tom Hawkins out of the side.

Neale had been in and out the senior side before his mentor Hawkins succumbed to a foot injury against Carlton in round 15, giving the 203 centimetre talent the chance to shine, slotting 14 goals in his last 10 games.

But the 23-year-old was put in an awkward position with the Geelong games record holder attempting to return from injury as his career came to a close.

An underdone Hawkins eventually returned in Geelong’s VFL semi-final – two days after Neale impressed in the Cats’ AFL qualifying final win over Port Adelaide – but the selection panel voted in favour of Neale to face Brisbane in their preliminary final clash for the ages.

Shannon Neale took Tom Hawkins’ spot. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Neale is striving to take his encouraging finish to last season into his contract year in 2025, with the West Australian saying he has “found a home” in Geelong.

Reflecting on last season, Neale said was accepting of where he sat compared to the Cats legend but he was eager to put his best foot forward to hold his spot.

“It was something I tried to sort of stay clear of,” Neale said.

“As much as he was a friend of mine – still is a friend of mine should I say – I was up for the challenge to try and keep my spot in the side. I understood the situation we were in with going into finals and what may have been – if we made the grand final it could have been his last grand final and last final series.

“I just wanted to hold my own. And in a way it was hard because I wanted to play – obviously I felt I was in a strong position with my game individually – but I understood the situation, the player he is.

“He’s kicked nearly 800 goals in his career and the experience he had so if I was the one that made way for him, then that was going to be the case. It was whatever was best for the team – without sounding like a pushover as such, like I wanted to also be in that side. But again, naturally, I understood the position I was in.

“But tried not to listen to too much media, just stay within the four walls – what the coaches were telling me, what my teammates were giving me as well. So I was just trying to stay grounded, stay in the present and whatever came the next day is what came. So it was tough, but again I was up for the challenge with that.”

Neale celebrates a goal. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

With Hawkins out of the picture, a key forward slot alongside Jeremy Cameron is Neale’s for the taking as he enters his fifth season at the Cats.

Both Hawkins and Cameron have helped Neale get to the position he is today and he will touch base with the retired goalkicker when he needs some advice.

“I’ll definitely reach out to him – definitely tap into him where I can, but I don’t want to be a nuisance. He’s taken some time off and enjoying time with the family that I’m sure he’s due to catch up on,” Neale said.

“We do stay in touch, he’s always been great for me and there’s no doubt I’ll reach out to him when I see fit.

“(Cameron’s) been unreal. He’s a bit more of a natural freak should I say than some others. He’s sort of pulls out some tricks that not many of us have seen before, so it’s hard to learn those things from someone that’s so naturally gifted.

“But the way he sees the game and I think from a physical point of view we’re quite similar in some ways. Like obviously we’re different, but we also have some similarities, so I try and tap into those as much as I can. He’s been great.”

SCRATCH PROJECT

Neale kicked goals on and off the field in 2025, launching a clothing collaboration with Cotton On known as ‘The Scratch Project’ which flew off the shelves.

Former Geelong goalsneak and current Cats player development officer Shannon Bynes helped the younger Shannon get the opportunity.

Neale designed the warm-up t-shirts for Cats players last year and will do so again in 2024, with Scratch Project 2.0 also on the cards.

“I’m excited to see the boys wear (the warm-up shirts). But there’s certainly talks about doing a second version (of the Scratch Project), which I’m keen to get out. Hasn’t quite started yet, but I’m definitely keen to get it going again,” Neale said.

“I just wanted to make something that the players was a bit more fashionable, more comfortable for the boys to wear to games and around the club. So that’s how that sort of went off. And it was really successful I think, I don’t think there’s much left in the Cats Shop at the moment so that’s a good sign.”

Out of contract at the end of the year, the Jandakot product said he is happy down in Geelong – with his clothing passion a contributing factor.

“I’ve found a home here in Geelong, I really like the club, I really like, what I’ve got going off field. But I’m sure my manager and ‘Mack’ (list manager Andrew Mackie) will take care of that,” Neale said.

“But I’m keen to get into the season and see where it takes me, but I’m loving where things are at. I’ll let things take care of themselves off-field.”

Neale didn’t get the chance to get in Bailey Smith’s ear last year during his work with Cotton On, but he has been impressed by the former Bulldog’s leadership qualities and workrate since he joined the Cats.

And Neale hopes the pair are working together in more ways than one in 2025.

“I didn’t actually speak to him out (at Cotton On), I’d never actually spoke to him before he got here. But maybe there’s potential for him and I to work together out there and do something, which would be pretty cool. But I’ll have to see where that avenues takes us,” Neale said.

“Baz works extremely hard and he’s a natural leader as well, like I’m learning a lot off him. He’s playing up the ground as I am a forward, and him delivering inside 50 is great to learn off.”

Originally published as Geelong forward Shannon Neale on ‘tough’ time keeping Tom Hawkins out of the side and his contract