Jon Anderson: Geelong great ‘Jumping Jack’ Hawkins the glaring omission in NSW Greatest AFL Team of All-Time

The final selection of the Greatest NSW AFL Team of All-Time was always going to cause debate. As Jon Anderson writes, a Geelong great is one of the glaring omissions.

Jack Hawkins (left) vies with Michael Roach for possession during a VFL game in 1981.

Jack Hawkins is the glaring omission from the New South Wales AFL Greatest Team of All-Time.

That Hawkins, 64, didn’t get selected at either centre half back or back pocket is surprising. That he didn’t get named one of nine emergencies is nothing short of insulting.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST

Hawkins, whose son Tom was named on interchange, played 182 games with Geelong between 1973-81 before a knee injury finished his career at age 27.

His last two years were played under Bill Goggin at centre half back, and Goggin has no doubt how good he was.

“At centre half back he just marked everything and would give it off very quickly which got us running out of defence,” said Goggin, 78.

Jack Hawkins (left) vies with Michael Roach for possession during a VFL game in 1981.

“He was that important to us that when he got injured, it arguably cost us a Grand Final. It must be a very good side if Jack Hawkins can’t crack a mention.”

In 1996 Geelong named its team of the half century (1946-1996) where Hawkins was named centre half back in front of Premiership players in Peter Walker and John Hyde.

Gordon Strang was named at centre half back and Chris Lethbridge as the tall back pocket, with the versatile Dane Rampe also missing the final 22.

Allan Jeans was a standout selection as coach with Neale Daniher his assistant, while Terry Daniher was on a half forward flank alongside captain Wayne Carey, with the “Temora Terror” Luke Breust on the other flank.