Tom Hawkins flourishes in new roaming forward role, holds key to Geelong finals’ hopes

TOM Hawkins was once among the best stay-at-home forward in the game, but JON ANDERSON writes the big Cat has left his traditional home and transformed Geelong.

Tom Hawkins’ new roaming role has helped rejuvenate the big forward — and the Cats. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

GEELONG has reaped the benefits of Tom Hawkins’ late-season transformation from stay at home target to roaming forward.

The 29-year-old has been a revelation after a tinkering in his traditional role, recording peak numbers since Round 19 when becoming an integral component of a new-look forward-line.

In that period Hawkins has averaged 20 possessions per game, 10 marks and four goals, but more importantly using his exceptional field kicking to lift his score involvements from 6.2 to 10.0.

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Tom Hawkins’ new roaming role has helped rejuvenate the big forward — and the Cats. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

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For a full forward who has sometimes struggled with set shots, Hawkins has always been a fine field kick, possessing rare vision for one normally focused on two white flags.

His new role requires travelling outside his traditional home of inside the 50m line, one where Hawkins has kicked the bulk of his 435 goals in 208 games.

He is being targeted less inside 50 but winning more ball outside of 50 where his ball use has been exceptional. Geelong has taken a mark from 56 per cent of his kicks inside 50 since Round 19, ranked No. 1 in the competition.

In the same period his field kick rating of 8.1% is elite, a figure that takes into account pressure and the difficulty of the kick (8.1% being his level above the AFL average).

Against GWS in Round 23, Hawkins travelled far and wide as the mobile and competitive Wylie Buzza became the deep option with midfielder Sam Menegola at times playing a quasi centre half forward and Daniel Menzel joining Hawkins on forays deep up the ground.

It left Geelong’s forward line open and dangerous, providing a rampant midfield with several options.

At times Hawkins wasn’t one of those options, his work up the field having resulted in the forward thrust.

Earlier in the year he had been stagnant by comparison, resulting in 16 goals in nine games between Rd 5 and Rd 15 and an average of just 11 possessions and six marks.

Good chance we see some Alex Rance v Tom Hawkins on Friday night. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Hawkins missed Geelong’s Rd 21 clash with Richmond when Alex Rance went to Harry Taylor.

The Cats are likely to play Taylor forward again (weather permitting) but Hawkins will expect Rance for company with David Astbury going to Taylor.

Richmond would say privately they are happy to get Rance away from the deep, but the new-look Hawkins proves how influential he can be up the ground.

Tomahawk since Round 19

Possessions avg	Marks avg	Score involvements	Field kick rating	Marks from kicks I50
20	10	10	8.1% (elite)	56% (No.1 in AFL)