Tom Hawkins Announces Retirement from AFL After Stellar Career

Big news in the AFL world today! Geelong legend Tom Hawkins has revealed he will retire at the end of this season. After an impressive career spanning 18 years, Hawkins is set to finish as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history.

The 36-year-old forward has been sidelined since Round 15 due to a foot injury, but he confirmed on Tuesday that he would hang up his boots once the 2024 season ends. He currently has played 359 games, ranking 15th all-time, and has kicked an impressive 796 goals, which places him 13th in AFL history.

Hawkins has certainly made his mark in the game. He’s won three premierships with Geelong in 2009, 2011, and 2022, and also nabbed the Coleman Medal in 2020. Over his career, he has been selected as an All-Australian five times and even captained the team in 2022.

He holds numerous records at Geelong, including being the club’s all-time leader in games played and having the second-most goals scored, trailing only Gary Ablett Sr. In 2012, he was named the club’s best and fairest player and led the Cats in goal scoring a remarkable 11 times.

Hawkins comes from a family of Cats players, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Fred Le Deux and father Jack Hawkins. He was drafted in 2006 under the father-son rule, and after debuting in 2007, he quickly established himself as a key player for Geelong.

His selflessness on the field is highlighted by his 296 goal assists and over 2,011 score involvements since 2012. Teammate Andrew Mackie praised his contributions, calling Hawkins a «generational player.”

Fans are now hoping to see Hawkins return before the end of the 2024 season to help Geelong strive for more success in the finals.