Red-hot Geelong forward Tom Hawkins eyeing extension to current contact which ends in 2020

Tom Hawkins’s career looked almost certain to be cut short by a debilitating back injury, but after another brilliant game he’s keen to extend his contract at the Cats.

Tom Hawkins has been in red-hot form for Geelong in the past month. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

All-Australian contender Tom Hawkins is determined to play well into his 30s as he urged booing fans to rejoice in Gary Ablett’s champion status.

The Geelong spearhead is in scintillating form at the halfway mark of the season with five consecutive bags of four goals and 15.1 from his last 16 set shots.

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At one stage Hawkins’ career seemed certain to be cut short because of a debilitating back injury that hampered him badly through the 2013 season.

But Hawkins told the Herald Sun yesterday he believed he could play on past his current five-year contract which expires at the end of 2020.

Turning 31 in July, he said an intensive program retraining muscles in his back after years of misuse had allowed him to play at his best.

Tom Hawkins has been in red-hot form for Geelong in the past month. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“I started doing it in the middle of my off-season and it didn’t pay off until a few weeks before the start of the season but once your body feels confident your mind does as well.

“I feel really confident in what I am doing, I do a lot of work on my body and you get to 30 and need to spend more time working at it. I feel physically really good, mentally really good.

“I have no reason in my mind why I can’t play for another two or three years. I know when you get to 30 it gets harder.”

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Much has been made of Geelong’s exceptional accuracy — Hawkins has kicked 22.4 since Round 7 — but he revealed he takes few set shots at goal during the week.

“I actually approached Gary Rohan at training on the track and picked his brain on what he does so well with his kicking routine. He has some simple cues he has helped me adopt and I feel like it’s working and my confidence has grown. I reckon I would have 30 or 40 shots but they are quality.”

Tom Hawkins flies above Shane Edwards to mark during Geelong’s win over Richmond. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith.

Hawkins is bewildered by the booing of Cats champion Ablett and urged fans to enjoy his greatness rather than take the gloss of his performances.

“I heard it out there and thought it had been put on the back burner. It is disappointing but I don’t know the answer,” he said.

“I keep coming back to the fact that he’s a champion player and in our game we love champions of the game. I just think it’s unfair but hopefully we can put an end to it.”