Emma Hawkins has told young Cats to kick to Tom next season as he plays on without Selwood

Cats’ veteran Tom Hawkins cried for days after Geelong’s Grand Final win and it wasn’t because his best mate Joel Selwood was retiring.

Hawkins was overcome with emotion after Geelong’s Grand Final win, and it wasn’t because Joel Selwood was retiring. Picture: David Caird

Emma Hawkins says she’d never been more nervous watching husband Tom play footy than in September’s grand final.

It was obvious just how much the game meant when there was an outpouring of emotion from the veteran Geelong forward at the final siren.

Upon reflection, the outward display even surprised himself.

Many thought it was because he knew best friend, long-time teammate and club captain Joel Selwood was calling it quits.

“I actually didn’t know,” Tom says, “so the emotion, I don’t know where so much of it came from. It happened back in 2011 (when we won the flag) albeit in a small sample size. It just goes to show how much you put into any given year that after 11 years the impact it can have. There’s been a lot of change in our life since then.”

Businesswoman and entrepreneur Emma jokes that Tom has only just stopped crying.

“I was relieved,’’ she says. “2011 was their last Cup and since then we’ve had children, there’s been lots that’s happened in those years and I see how much work the boys have done. I see how much joy Tom gets out of these young boys coming in, and sharing the premiership with the young boys and Joel and Mitch (Duncan). It means a lot.

The Hawkins and Duncan families celebrate after the Grand Final. Picture: Getty

“We celebrated well on best and fairest night to the point where Tom and I got up and sang the Dixie Chicks. A lot of the young teammates didn’t really know what we were singing and, to be fair, we didn’t know what the DJ was playing, as well.”

Life will be different for Tom without Selwood by his side after they started their careers together at the club in 2007. But at 34, the All-Australian captain is as excited as ever.

“I’ll find someone else to buddy up to,’’ Tom says. “Joel did say to me I’ll have to find 20 goals next year, I’ll be back down to 40.

“We’ve been such a staple in each other’s lives. It’s not like he’s gone forever, I’m still going to see him, he’s only just down the road. And I’ve still got some wonderful friends at the football club.”

Emma says she’s already worded up the young boys to kick it to her husband.

They are taking a well earned family break now and with footy drawing to a close the couple has already shifted focus to another sporting passion – racing.

When they were young they would gather their friends in carparks on Stakes Day, and have long been staples trackside at Flemington.

Now they have cemented their interest with a share in numerous horses as co-owners.

Emma is part of the all female owners’ group behind colt Stupendo, trained by Danny O’Brien in Barwon Heads, while Tom is part of Midwest, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman based in Mornington, and he recently bought into Tazaral, due to run in autumn.

Hawkins and Selwood head to the change room with the Premiership Cup. Picture: David Caird

“He didn’t have his best run but the fact Stupendo raced on Turnbull Stakes Day was a great thrill,’’ Emma says.

“They’re planning more for him and he’ll be back soon.

“Stupendo is owned by all women and a bunch of old school friends.

“We’ve been VRC members for a long time but to have a horse on the main stage is really exciting for us because we’ve only been doing it for a bit of fun with friends but it’s a cherry on top to have a horse on the big stage.

“I was chatting to Nina (O’Brien’s wife) the other day and I said I’ve never been more nervous in all of Tom’s senior career than I was on Grand Final day. She’s had a few days like that with the O’Brien stable. It is like the Grand Final, the Melbourne Cup Carnival.”

Tom says ownership is another “connection” to racing that the couple are growing to love. They were both raised in the country, surrounded by animals including horses. They will again be Melbourne Cup Carnival ambassadors, continuing their longstanding relationship with the VRC and will be trackside on TAB Champion Stakes Day.

“I think it would be an official role for us for the third time,’’ Emma says. “I feel like in some capacity I’ve worked trackside maybe for 10 years now and I’ve been going since I was well under 10 years old. We’ve been hosting carparks since age 17, 18 – it’s like a never-ending journey with Victoria Racing Club.

Tom and Emma Hawkins prepare for the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with daughters Primrose and Arabella, and former Cup winner Vow and Declare. Picture Rebecca Michael.

“We’re equally excited as we are grateful to be ambassadors again for another year.

“As much as it is family day and we had a lovely photo shoot with Vow and Declare, I think Tom and I might take this opportunity for mum and dad to have a day out with friends.”

Tom says: “It was an incredible result for the football club to win the premiership and in a lot of ways we keep that, we celebrate it and now look forward to everything that comes with being ambassadors in the Melbourne Cup Carnival and we can’t wait. One of our passions we’ll put behind us for another year and move on to the next.

“It’s a wonderful experience to see what an elite trainer does in any sporting field but Danny and Nina run a wonderful operation and also at their stables in Flemington. I found it interesting to see the husbandry and the care that goes into this. Just as we go through certain stages of our footballing journey each year. It’s a different method of training and conditioning and recovering for the horses. It is extremely high tech and certainly more than I had envisaged what it would be like.”

The couple have expanded their own brood since the last Carnival, already welcoming much joy into their lives with the arrival of Henry in July – their third child and a cherished son following daughters Arabella and Primrose.

The Hawkins are Melbourne Cup Carnival ambassadors. Picture Rebecca Michael.

Tom with daughter Primrose at trainer Danny O'Brien's stables. Picture Rebecca Michael.

Tom and Emma agree he’s been a lucky charm having arrived just in time to be at the MCG when Dad won another premiership.

“He’s doing so well, we’ve been so lucky he’s just slotted into the Hawkins family and he’s been very kind to me because it’s been a very busy few months with footy and welcoming in a newborn,’’ Emma says.

“He’s been fantastic, the lucky charm.

“We know from the hub that Geelong have the most kids of any team in the AFL. That coincides with we’ve got the oldest playing group as well. It’s all really exciting, so many bubs will be around next year so there’ll be lots of new kittens running around.”