He was forced to mark the occasion in Adelaide separated from his wife Emma and their two daughters, because of COVID-19 restrictions.‘‘I would’ve loved to have taken my two girls out and have (wife) Emma up the race, and have my immediate family and my friends to the game to watch me play,’’ Mr Hawkins told the media prior to the match.
‘‘I take solace in the fact that I’ve got my teammates there who are the other part of getting me to where I am today.
‘‘That’s life; I’m only going to play 300 games once and I understand the situation, but it is a bit disappointing.’’
While the Cats could not deliver a win for the milestone game, the celebrations were capped off with Hawkins’ selection at full forward in the
NSW Australian Football History Society’s honourary NSW State Of Origin Team for 2021.
The society also named Hawkins as captain of the side, and bestowed on him the inaugural Mohr Medal for goalkicking.
Society patron Richard Colless, who leads the selection process for the team, said this year’s State of Origin team was selected from the 51 players from NSW-based clubs on AFL lists in 2021.
‘‘Tom Hawkins, from Geelong, is again captain of the team, and he wins the inaugural Mohr Medal — named in honour of St Kilda goalkicking champion Wilbur ‘Bill’ Mohr in the 1930s,’’ Colless said.
‘‘Bill played in Wagga Wagga with Federals which became Wagga Tigers.
‘‘He was the leading goalkicker for St Kilda from 1929 to 1940.
‘‘Bill was selected at full forward in the Greatest NSW Team of All Time announced in 2018, a member of the St Kilda Team of the Century, an inaugural inductee into the AFL Hall of Fame, and 18 times Victorian representative for being the leading NSW goal kicker in the AFL with 54 goals.’’
Hawkins topped the goalkicking tally to receive the Mohr medal, with 54 goals in the home and away season.
Behind him were Taylor Walker (48), Luke Breust (33), Isaac Heeney (32), Harry Himmelberg (32) and Jacob Koschitzke.
Meeting Port Adelaide Power in the first qualifying finals for the second year in a row, the Cats were unable to ascend.
Port Adelaide took an early lead, and at half time had 8.7 (55) to Geelong’s 3.8 (26).
Geelong mustered in the second half, but not by enough.
At the final siren, the score was Port Adelaide 12.14 (86) to Geelong 5.13 (43).
Hawkins had 10 disposals, seven kicks and three marks, and contributed two goals and one behind to Geelong’s total score.
Hawkins and his teammates are quarantining in Western Australia, ahead of a match against Greater Western Sydney Giants in Perth this Friday.
GWS will be heading in to the game confident after a thrilling one-point win over the Sydney Swans on Saturday.
The winner of the clash will go on to meet minor premiers the Melbourne Demons in a preliminary final in Perth on Friday, September 10.
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