AFL 2024: Geelong defeats Hawthorn as Tom Hawkins and Toby Conway shine

Tom Hawkins continued his strong form in the latter stage of his career in his 350th game, while another milestone man also shone. And an impressive display has put a veteran under pressure.

It was a fitting beginning for Tom Hawkins in his 350th game as he showed he remains as dangerous as ever.

With his very first touch in his milestone match against Hawthorn, Hawkins marked the ball on the lead along the boundary after a chiselling pass from his three-time premiership teammate Mitch Duncan.

And while Hawkins’ unselfishness has been a feature of his career, his teammates and fans watching on knew there was no way he was passing this one off.

Hawkins has made slotting set shots from the unconventional right-hand boundary look like shelling peas over the years, and this was no exception tucked right up on the boundary.

You could see how much the 787th goal of his career – which put him equal with Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt – meant to him, looking towards the crowd and grinning like a Cheshire cat as he gave them a big fist pump.

However, that trademark smile may not be so wide during the week if he is penalised by the AFL for checking his phone during the lightning enforced break.

His emotion was also clear pre-game, wiping his eyes as he walked out onto the ground before being greeted by his children Arabella, Primrose and Henry, all decked out in the No.26.

Tom Hawkins with children Henry, Arabella and Primrose. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hawkins nearly had another from that same spot in the second term but his kick just slid to the right.

The 35-year-old moved ahead of Riewoldt to 13th on the all-time goalkicking standings soon after when the ball fell into his lap right on the goal line.

Hawkins capped a stellar opening quarter – where Geelong piled on seven goals to Hawthorn’s one - with a pick-up and handball which assisted a classy Ollie Henry goal.

Perhaps the only surprise from the five-time All-Australian was an errant set shot that hit the behind post. But he added a third goal soon after, reading the drop of the ball to perfection to mark one-one-one, and finished with four for the match after Jeremy Cameron handed him one late in the piece.

While the day was all about Hawkins in their comfortable win, that was bizarrely interrupted by lightning, he was just a piece of Geelong’s threatening forward line that fired once again – albeit against an undermanned and inexperienced Hawthorn defence.

Geelong looked almost unstoppable during the first and third quarters – and that later burst was much-needed.

Henry and Hawkins had two majors to quarter time, while Cameron, Tyson and Brad Close also kicked goals in an efficient opening term, where the Cats scored six goals from their first 11 inside 50s.

Then after a Hawthorn fightback that cut a six-goal lead to four points early in the third term, the Cats hammered home four goals in the space of seven minutes – and it could have been five in nine minutes if it wasn’t for a simple miss from Henry.

Days after welcoming his fourth child, Mitch Duncan was absolutely everywhere in the premiership quarter with 11 disposals, a goal and a goal assist, with his elite ball-use standing out as the rain poured down.

Coming off a full pre-season — a rarity for the 32-year-old — he looks primed for a big year.

His efforts didn’t end there, chairing off Hawkins along with Cameron as he was met with applause from the Geelong faithful who stuck it out through the rain and the extended break.

The other milestone man Henry, in game 50, produced arguably the best performance of his career, kicking four goals and setting up two others.

A @GeelongCats legend.

Congrats on 350 games, Tom 👏#AFLHawksCatspic.twitter.com/GGc533DhOu

— AFL (@AFL) April 1, 2024

Tanner Bruhn also had a day to remember, tallying a career-high 27 disposals to go with 15 contested possessions and nine clearances.

TERRIFIC TOBY

Veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley was managed for the Easter Monday clash with coach Chris Scott citing a five-day break ahead of Gather Round as the primary reason.

But his deputy Toby Conway would be unlucky to be overlooked to face Tim English — who Conway came up against in an encouraging AFL debut last year — at Adelaide Oval next Saturday night after a thoroughly impressive performance in just his second game.

Like Hawkins, Conway started hot with the 206cm big man’s first tap landing in the arms of Tanner Bruhn on the run.

Toby Conway celebrates his first goal. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Conway also clunked two intercept marks in the opening term, one of those a strong grab in a pack.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the St Mary’s product as Hawthorn dominated the clearances and territory in the second and fourth quarters.

He also gave away two free kicks in marking contests that at the very least showed his competitive intent.

But Conway broke the Cats deadlock in the third term with his first AFL goal after a towering pack mark deep inside 50 and showed good signs at stoppages and at ground level throughout the contest.

The 21-year-old finished with 19 hitouts, 11 disposals and four marks.

Stanley was well beaten by Rowan Marshall and Reilly O’Brien in the first two rounds and he may be forced to fight for the No.1 ruck spot at VFL level.

DAN BATTEN’S VOTES

3 - Mitch Duncan

2 - Tanner Bruhn

1 - Ollie Henry

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong defeats Hawthorn as Tom Hawkins and Toby Conway shine