Emerging Geelong forward Shannon Neale the silver lining of Tom Hawkins’ injury blow

Tom Hawkins will be sidelined for a defining stretch of Geelong’s season. But the setback allows the Cats to get a sense of what life after Hawkins looks like.

Shannon Neale after the loss to Sydney. Picture: Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

When your season is on the line, it is far from ideal to have an important forward 50 target sidelined for up to two months.

The diminishing returns of Tom Hawkins aside, seventh-placed Geelong is on struggle street with one win since April.

And every game is crucial now with Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Hawthorn sitting just behind them.

Geelong’s upcoming clash with the Essendon would have been the perfect opposition to play Hawkins into form. He dined out with 13 goals in two games against the Bombers just last year.

But the silver lining of Hawkins’ foot injury was there for all to see at North Port Oval on Sunday.

Emerging tall Shannon Neale produced a commanding performance at the perfect time with 18 disposals, 14 score involvements, eight marks and 3.3 – which could have easily been a bag of five – in their narrow loss to Port Melbourne.

Shannon Neale looms as Tom Hawkins’ replacement. Picture; Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The athletic 203 centimetre forward was a strong presence in the air, ran his opponents ragged around the ground and set up two goals himself in the last quarter with the game on the line.

Since late last year, Geelong coach Chris Scott has spoken about his willingness to get Neale, who turns 22 next month, into the side.

Now the Cats have a 6-8 week stretch to see what life after Hawkins looks like, and the opportunity to give Neale an extended block of games as the No. 2 forward behind the dazzling Jeremy Cameron.

The man nicknamed ‘Scratch’ has played 10 AFL games since being taken with pick 33 in the 2020 draft and is only just scratching the surface.

We got a glimpse of it in round five when Hawkins was a late withdrawal against North Melbourne, where he kicked three goals and showed his promising follow-up work with three tackles.

There is the obvious asterisk that it came against the bottom side with an undermanned key defensive outfit of Aidan Corr, Charlie Comben and Bigoa Nyuon, but it was an encouraging showing in his first senior game for the season.

Neale celebrates one of his two goals against the Tigers. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Neale was left waiting for his next opportunity, a common theme in his young career to date.

Cameron and Hawkins both didn’t make the trip for Geelong’s Darwin demolition at the hands of Gold Coast in round 10, where he was thrown to the wolves.

The South Fremantle product had just one disposal in the first half but it was an absolute beauty, gathering it off the deck and bending it through on the right from 40 metres in a way no 203cm player should.

The Cats kept the faith, with Neale providing returns of one goal and 48 SuperCoach points in the loss to the GWS, and two goals and 49 points against Richmond.

But he managed just three touches, a goal and 28 points in the loss to the Swans, subbed out with a minor calf injury and dropped after the bye.

Now their hand has been forced.

Geelong could go in with a smaller forward line against the Bombers and bring last week’s substitute Gary Rohan into the 22, but it is the perfect time to allow Shannon to shine.

He might not fire every game, nor should he be expected to, but he has proved he is worthy of the opportunity — booting 12 goals in five VFL games this year — and will benefit greatly from the exposure.

Key forwards are hard to find and he has unique attributes for a player his size. also showing he can pinch-hit in the ruck.

Neale has been kicking goals off the field as well, launching a bespoke clothing line last week in collaboration with Cotton On and The Cats Shop dubbed ‘The Scratch Project’.

But there will be even greater anticipation surrounding the next two months, The Scratch Project 2.0, which is poised to begin on Saturday night at the MCG.

Originally published as Emerging Geelong forward Shannon Neale the silver lining of Tom Hawkins’ injury blow