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Star Brisbane defender readies himself for key battle on Coleman Medallist

The clash between Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins and dual-All Australian defender Harris Andrews is pivotal to the Geelong-Brisbane preliminary final.

Lions vice-captain Harris Andrews’ battle with Tom Hawkins could decide the preliminary final on Saturday
Lions vice-captain Harris Andrews’ battle with Tom Hawkins could decide the preliminary final on Saturday

On Saturday night at the Gabba, Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins will sidle up to dual-All Australian Harris Andrews in what shapes as a key preliminary final match-up.

The Geelong spearhead, who is a father of daughters Arabella and Primrose, is eight years older than the Brisbane vice-captain and in the latter stages of his time in football.

Yet when their teammates are bellowing encouragement with the battle at its fiercest, it is Andrews who will be answering to the calls of “Dad”.

That’s what he’s known as to his younger teammates. More broadly, he is simply called “Chief”.

Andrews, 23, has performed at a level of maturity above his age since beginning his career in 2015. But it was during his time living with Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry that the nickname stuck.

“He’s a 20-year-old with a 30-year-old’s mannerisms. That’s been picked up by a few other boys and that’s pretty much his nickname now,” McCluggage said in 2017.

When the moniker was put to Andrews at the Gabba this week, the defender shook his head.

“It is a bit of a stitch-up,” he told The Australian. “I took those boys into my place when they first moved up here and that gag has been running since then.

“It is not such a bad tag and footy clubs, in a way, once a tag catches on, it just sticks around.”

Harris Andrews is an elder statesman, even as a 23-year-old
Harris Andrews is an elder statesman, even as a 23-year-old

According to Berry, living with Harris on their arrival in Brisbane was crucial to the youngsters from regional Victoria settling into their new surroundings.

Like every share house, they had their moments. Andrews, Berry said, hosts a mean barbecue, aside from that one time where he nearly blew up his own home.

For a man who has made a career out of spoiling the best forwards of his generation, the defender had a decent rebuttal to that tall tale.

“We were at my place, actually, and the boys didn’t do a great job actually of cleaning the barbecue. I bet he didn’t mention that to you,” he said.

“But what happened is that we turned it on and there was a bit of crap sitting around on the frame of the grill and, the next thing you know, the fire is coming out of the barbecue and it nearly singed the eyebrows off.

“I got stuck into them afterwards.”

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Andrews will find himself in football’s version of a hot kitchen when he plays on Hawkins in front of an expected crowd of nearly 30,000.

When they clashed at the SCG in June, Hawkins kicked three goals. And the champion Cats forward boasts a tremendous record against Brisbane, though Andrews has only been around in recent seasons.

Hawkins has kicked 53 goals from 17 outings against the Lions at an average of 3.1 goals per match, which is his best against any club.

But the Geelong spearhead is mindful of the talent of Andrews, who has claims to being the best key defender in the competition for the past two years, as his All Australian status suggests.

“He is obviously a great player and he has some great strengths,” Hawkins said.

“His ability in the one-on-ones is as good as anyone and the way he reads the game is second to none. He is a great player. We have played on each other a bit over the past four or five years.

“I will take confidence from the last time we played and also look at what I did on the weekend and also just go out there and try to play my game and just see what the game presents.”

Tom Hawkins is Harris Andrews’ man to mark. Picture: Michael Klein
Tom Hawkins is Harris Andrews’ man to mark. Picture: Michael Klein

Andrews credits his time living with McCluggage and Berry for accelerating his promotion to the Lions leadership, with the defender promoted to vice-captain aged just 21.

“It felt like it did a lot of good for me as well in the sense that I was trying to build my leadership as well and, by helping these young guys try to improve and how to go about trying to perform in an AFL environment, that made me a better player and a better leader, so I am really grateful for having those guys in with me and obviously they are really good guys as well and we had some good times,” he said.

The opportunity ahead of Brisbane is significant. The Lions won their first final in more than a decade when they defeated Richmond earlier this month and are vying for a spot in a decider for the first time since 2004.

“It is a great opportunity for us after last year, where we lost those two finals in a row, which was quite disappointing,” Andrews said. “To get back to that same position and be able to capitalise in that first week of finals is exciting and it is a show of growth in our group.

“For Brisbane in general, and the community, having the grand final and even the whole AFL season up here has been massive.

“I think the growth in junior levels, we probably haven’t experienced it this year because of COVID, but in years to come, I imagine it will get bigger.”

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/star-brisbane-defender-readies-himself-for-key-battle-on-coleman-medallist/news-story/7ae003d9a7feabcef4b4a9f0181c69ba