Tom Hawkins’ sharp drop-off in form a cause for concern at Geelong

Tom Hawkins has aged as well as any player in recent memory, yet the superstar Cat’s form after a hot start to 2024 suggests this might just be the farewell tour Geelong was dreading.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 04: Tom Hawkins of the Cats looks dejected after losing the round eight AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on May 04, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Long has it been a saying across the AFL: Tom Hawkins is ageing like a fine wine.

But the past month of football down at the Cattery has been more like sour grapes for the first time in a legendary career.

Hawkins was held goalless again on Saturday night, the fourth game in a row, and Geelong was unable to continue its perfect start to the season.

The Demons are an elite defensive side, with Steven May and Jake Lever one of the competition’s best backline duos, but Hawkins’ inability to impact the contest again was glaring.

It’s the first time in his 354-game career that he has failed to slot a goal in four straight games, with his last major coming against Hawthorn in his 350th on Easter Monday.

And it another massive milestone week for the veteran, who is set to equal Joel Selwood’s games record at Geelong on 355.

Hawkins has struggled to have an impact lately. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Hawkins has regularly held off contract talks until the end of the season to see where his health and drive was, and whether he felt there was enough gas in the tank to go around again.

But 2024 is shaping up to be a farewell tour, with Hawkins’ impact on games clearly falling away.

To start the season, Hawkins is averaging just 9.3 disposals, 2.6 marks, 1.7 tackles, 1.3 goals and 0.4 goal assists.

He kicked all nine of his goals in the first three games, including two bags of four majors against Adelaide and Hawthorn.

But since his 350th, Hawkins has recorded just 8.3 disposals, 1.5 marks and 43.8 ranking points per game.

His tackling numbers have increased, but the source of his tackles typically are a result of arriving at a contest later than his direct opponent and then applying pressure.

It’s not the first time Hawkins’ start to the season has come under fire.

In 2023, the forward had off-season surgery that severely limited the amount of conditioning work he was able to accomplish, with many questioning whether he would be fit enough to start the season.

Steven May got the better of the champion on Saturday. Pic: Michael Klein

Despite the concerns over his fitness, Hawkins did start the season on time and while he worked into the year he still had a major impact.

In his first seven games of the 2023 season, Hawkins averaged 11.1 disposals per game, as well as 5.6 marks, 3.1 goals and 1.4 goal assists.

Hawkins was equal third in the Coleman Medal race (22 goals) after seven weeks, fresh off an eight-goal haul against Essendon and behind only teammate Jeremy Cameron and Carlton’s Charlie Curnow in the leading goal kickers race, who both had slotted 30 majors each.

Premiership teammate Steve Johnson said while Hawkins was “the most selfless” player in the AFL, he was out of form.

“I still think good players, and he’s been a very good player for a long period of time, he’ll find a way to hit the scoreboard,” he said on Triple M.

“He had a really poor off-season so he’s not at full fitness. He had a foot injury, maybe a bit of a hot spot in the foot, so he missed chunks of the pre-season.

“It takes you a little bit longer to get going. We’ve got to judge Tom Hawkins on the second half of the season and the big games towards the back end of the year, because he’s still going to be a pretty important player for them.

“He drags a very good defender, you don’t need him to be Tom Hawkins of 2011 when he absolutely dominated a grand final.”

Jacob Weitering dominated Hawkins the week before last. Pic: Michael Klein

Hawkins has received match ups against Jacob Weitering and Steven May, and while Jeremy Cameron was also held goalless against Melbourne on Saturday, the star forward was able to boot five majors against the Blues.

Hawkins is set to equal Selwood’s career tally of 355 games against Port Adelaide on Friday night at GMHBA Stadium, with a potential match up against either former teammate Esava Ratugolea or ex-Bomber Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, who he booted 13 goals across two games against in 2023.

While he could be rested, allowing the record-breaking 366th clash to be against the Giants at GMHBA Stadium rather than against the Suns at TIO Stadium, a game against the Power could be a perfect opportunity to hit the scoreboard and re-find some form; something he desperately needs to do.

Originally published as Tom Hawkins’ sharp drop-off in form a cause for concern at Geelong