‘Wow’: Geelong star Tom Hawkins has got away with a ‘diving’ act

The AFL has stunned footy commentators after announcing the verdict from the review into Tom Hawkins’ staging controversy.

Tom Hawkins is playing a straight bat.

Cats star Tom Hawkins has avoided any punishment from the AFL over the moment he was accused of taking a dive against Hawthorn.

The Geelong forward said after the game there was nothing untoward in his behaviour when he appeared to launch himself in the air on the back of minimal contact from a defender.

After getting away with a clear push in the back on Harris Andrews during Geelong’s Round 4 win over Brisbane, Hawkins was again at the centre of controversy as the Hawks upset the Cats 14.8 (92) to 11.14 (80).

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The key forward was awarded a free kick in a marking contest in the third quarter but many viewers suggested the spearhead had exaggerated contact from defender Sam Frost.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph said on Twitter Hawkins “will definitely get a fine for ‘excessive exaggeration’”.

However, the AFL Match Review Officer dropped a shock verdict on Tuesday night, announcing no action will be taken against the 33-year-old.

The verdict was announced in a statement from the AFL.

Tom Hawkins is playing a straight bat.

“The incident involving Geelong Cats’ Tom Hawkins from the third quarter of Monday’s match between Hawthorn and the Geelong Cats was assessed,” the statement claimed.

“Hawkins is pushed by Hawthorn’s Sam Frost as he jumps for the ball and a free kick is paid. It was the view of the MRO that Hawkins exaggerated the contact but that his actions did not constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.”

It comes just one week after Carlton star Harry McKay was fined $1000 by the AFL for “excessive exaggeration” staging during the Blues’ loss to the Gold Coast.

The 24-year-old bumped into the shoulder of Suns star Mabior Chol after taking a mark and flung his head back in a whiplash motion.

AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley said McKay should have been at “WrestleMania”.

Ralph posted on Twitter on Tuesday night Hawkins deserved to pay the same fine McKay was slugged.

“Wow. No staging for Hawkins. He did exactly what McKay did last week,” he wrote.

“Turn minor contact into a major flop. AFL concedes he did exaggerate but not enough for a fine.

Harry McKay takes a dive. Photo: Kayo.

Harry McKay takes a dive. Photo: Kayo.

“For comparison here is the McKay staging fine. He deserves an Academy Award but Hawkins got a push and nearly got horizontal. And Hawkins got a Shooting Stars meme. I think both were excessive exaggeration and worthy of what is a piffling $1000 fine.”

Speaking after the game, Hawkins acknowledged he may have been on the receiving end of a favourable call.

“I think it was clear to see. I was outnumbered around the footy. I jumped and obviously Frost is strong himself and it got me at a poor time,” Hawkins told Seven News.

“I know it’s going to be really controversial.

“These decisions are really hard for an umpire to make split-second. I’ve been on the end of two that have been quite favourable but I’m sure, swings and roundabouts, it’ll come back the other way.

“It was a great spectacle of football today. I don’t think we should take it back to decisions that were made in a split-second. It’s really hard for the umpires.”

So, Hawkins gets a goal, yet in every likelihood will be given a fine for staging.

🤦‍♂️#AFLHawksCats

— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) April 18, 2022

Hawkins getting a free kick for a push in the back that wasn’t a push in the back will likely make Harris Andrews fall off his couch.

— Darren Parkin (@Darren_Parkin) April 18, 2022

Tom Hawkins is now a Shooting Stars meme. I will not apologise for this pic.twitter.com/MFyyBCbY2T

— Ethan (@ethanmeldrum_) April 18, 2022

Accusations of Hawkins playing for a free kick was only the beginning of a furore that has sent footy fans into a frenzy.

The rule about 50m penalties being handed out for abuse or dissent towards umpires has become a joke, with players now getting pinged for simply holding their arms out, even if they don’t say anything.

Frost didn’t say anything to the umpire but Tom Mitchell and Jack Gunston were penalised for gesturing with their arms.

It comes after Lions defender Andrews was punished for the same offence on Thursday night against Collingwood.

Collingwood legend Dane Swan said the rule needed to be removed while Demons great Garry Lyon was scathing.

“What we’ve seen this weekend suggests there’s a crisis that (AFL football operations boss) Brad Scott has to sort out tomorrow morning,” Lyon told Fox Footy.

“It’s a disgrace what we’ve seen this weekend.”

Originally published as ‘Wow’: Geelong star Tom Hawkins has got away with a ‘diving’ act