Tom Hawkins keeping excellent company with 600th career goal
Tom Hawkins became just the third Geelong player to kick 600 career goals in the semi-final demolition over Collingwood, joining two of the club’s all-time greats in that club.
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A humble Tom Hawkins is keeping excellent company with his 600th career goal but says “I’m a long way behind” two of the club’s all-time greats.
Hawkins slotted 4.1 on Saturday night to kick the 600th major of his career, joining Gary Ablett Sr and Doug Wade as only the third player in the club’s history to reach that milestone.
Ablett Sr kicked 1021 goals with Geelong and Wade 834.
“I knew I was relatively close but I didn’t know until I finished the game and (media manager) Kev Diggerson told me,” Hawkins told K rock Football.
“Anytime you can be named in the same sentence as those two players … I’m a long way behind the two of them but it’s pretty humbling to be talked about in the same sentence.”
Irishman Zach Tuohy said Hawkins was an underrated champion.
“Maybe people don’t fully appreciate how good he is,” Tuohy told the Sunday Footy Show.
“Obviously I knew he was a great player when I came to the club but seeing him up close, this bloke plays against two or three defenders every week and just constantly gets it done.
“He’s a superstar and a wonderful bloke.”
Saturday night’s clash against Brisbane Lions will be Hawkins’ seventh preliminary final as he attempts to add a third premiership medallion to his 2009 and 2011 collection.
He said there was “a sense of calmness” in the rooms after the 68-point win over Collingwood.
“We caught up briefly before we sang the song and just talked about what the opportunity (is) that presents,” he said.
“(There’s) a real calmness among the group. We had a fantastic week. We identified what we needed to do better and we executed tonight.
“I thought it was a really polished performance from all over the ground. From our defenders, I thought they were outstanding and really led the way and the midfielders got it done around the contest.
“When the ball was kicked forward, I thought the forwards competed at the right times and finished our work, which we probably weren’t able to do last week.
“It was a really pleasing performance against a side that plays a really good brand of footy.”
Originally published as Tom Hawkins keeping excellent company with 600th career goal