AFL fans stunned as Tom Hawkins named captain of All Australian team

The All Australian team has once again proved it is as subjective as awards come, with one particular selection taking fans by surprise.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Tom Hawkins of the cats speaks after being named the 2022 All Australian Captain during the 2022 AFL Awards at Centrepiece on August 24, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The decision to name Geelong forward Tom Hawkins the captain of the All-Australian team has raised eyebrows among many AFL fans.

The All-Australian team was announced on Wednesday at the AFL Awards night, along with the Rising Star Award, AFL Players’ Association MVP and AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year.

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Five Geelong players — Tom Hawkins, Jeremy Cameron, Tyson Stengle, Tom Stewart and Mark Blicavs were named in the 22-man team.

Hawkins picked up his fifth All Australian blazer but was surprisingly given the honour of being named captain of the side despite the fact he is not even the Geelong captain.

It was a perplexing decision given Melbourne captain Max Gawn and Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps were named in the starting side and would have been worthy picks. Cripps was named vice-captain.

Hawkins said he was surprised by the honour and confessed he had never been captain of a footy side.

“I don’t think I’ve actually ever been captain of a football side before, so to be standing alongside some of the best players of our generation is pretty cool,” the 34-year-old said.

“Very unexpected, but very cool to be identified with.”

Anyone can be the All Australian captain these days. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

It brought back memories of when Sydney Swans spearhead Buddy Franklin was named captain of the All Australian side in 2018 despite never being a captain at AFL level.

AFL fans were bemused by the decision to say the least.

as we all predicted, Tom Hawkins is the All-Australian captain.

— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) August 24, 2022

I see they spun the wheel again for All-Aus captain.

— Nic Negrepontis (@NicNegrepontis) August 24, 2022

That's the fourth time in six years they've picked an All-Australian captain who isn't a club captain, so let's never try and tip who they're gonna pick for that ever again because who knows

— Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) August 24, 2022

How on earth is Tom “sorry about your eye socket” Hawkins All Australian captain? Selwood? Fine. But sheesh

— James Massola (@jamesmassola) August 24, 2022

Fox Footy’s Gerard Whateley described Hawkins’ selection as captain as a “legacy piece”.

North Melbourne great David King said: “I’m rapt for Tom Hawkins. He has been such a good player for so long.

“Maybe he hasn’t had the title of captain but to be at his level for so long, I love what the AFL are doing. I think we’re recognising our champions better than ever and this is just one special way.”

Gawn made his sixth All Australian team and was joined by Demons teammates Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Steven May.

There were 12 debutants named, while seven players backed up their selections in last year’s team.

Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard was a surprise selection in the back pocket, while Hawthorn’s James Sicily, Richmond’s Tom Lynch and Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli can consider themselves unlucky to miss out.

The 2022 AFL All Australian team. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

AFL ALL AUSTRALIAN 2022 TEAM

B: Tom Stewart (Geelong Cats, 1st time), Steven May (Melbourne, 2nd time), Brayden Maynard (Collingwood, 4th time)

HB: Jack Sinclair (St Kilda, 1st time), Sam Taylor (GWS Giants, 1st time), Adam Saad (Carlton, 1st time)

C: Touk Miller (Gold Coast Suns, 2nd time), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne, 3rd time), Callum Mills (Sydney Swans, 1st time)

HF: Christian Petracca (Melbourne, 3rd time), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats, 3rd time), Shai Bolton (Richmond, 1st time)

F: Charlie Curnow (Carlton, 1st time), Tom Hawkins (Geelong Cats, 5th time — captain), Tyson Stengle (Geelong Cats, 1st time)

FOLL: Max Gawn (Melbourne, 6th time), Patrick Cripps (Carlton, 3rd time — vice-captain), Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions, 3rd time)

I/C: Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans, 1st time), Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide, 1st time), Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle, 1st time), Mark Blicavs (Geelong Cats, 1st time)