Tom Hawkins arrived at Geelong ahead of the 2007 season as a teenager who wasn’t quite ready for the rigours of AFL footy.
As the ‘TomaHawk’ prepares for his 355th game for the Cats, the man whose record he is equalling against Port Adelaide on Friday night - Joel Selwood - has remembered how it all started.
Both Hawkins and Selwood were selected in the 2006 draft before debuting early in the 2007 season. They have done it all together, including three premierships in the blue and white hoops.
Selwood says the fact Hawkins has been able to play into an 18th season somewhat “defies logic” considering his younger physique and relaxed mindset, but can see why he has lasted so long because of his pure enjoyment for the game.
“We rocked up at the same time back in 2006 after the draft, and we got to work in 2007 albeit a little bit differently,” Selwood said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“I was a driven kid that wanted to steal someone’s spot straight away, whereas Tom came in and he was about 115 kilos and close to 200cm.
“He had the size on him, he just wasn’t ready at that stage to become a professional footballer. It defies logic a little bit that a kid like that can go on and have such a long career.
“The one thing that he did is to make sure he enjoyed football, and I still see it in him today. It’s probably been a big part of why he has kept going.”
Hawkins ran out for his 300th milestone in 2021, the same game in which Selwood equalled Corey Enright’s old record of 332 games.
On that occasion, the Cats were beaten by the Power in the Qualifying Final.
One current Cats teammate who will be intent on avoiding a similar fate is Cam Guthrie.
The best and fairest midfielder joined Hawkins at the club via the 2010 draft and has seen first-hand what he has done for the Cats and his colleagues over the years.
“He’s been an absolute star,” Guthrie said on SEN Breakfast.
“The way Tom goes about his business on the field is obviously really impressive.
“Over my time with Tom he’s someone you can really count on, but off the field he’s as good as it gets. He’s a great teammate, a great family person.
“I was really excited for him a few weeks ago when he played his 350th and to go ahead and come up to Joel for games played at the Cats - they’re two guys I have great respect for and feel really lucky to have played with.”
After Selwood recently had a stand named after him at GMHBA Stadium, could Hawkins be afforded the same honour in due course?
In Guthrie’s mind, it’s a moral.
“I don’t think he’d be too far off getting the same thing,” he added.
“That’s how highly I think of Tom and what he has brought to the Geelong Football Club.
“Maybe one day. I’d vouch for him for sure.”
Five-time All-Australian Hawkins enters his record-equalling game on the back of the longest goal drought of his career having gone without a major in his last four matches.
However, he has kicked multiple goals in his last five against the Power as he gets set to take on former teammate Esava Ratugolea and his defensive counterparts.
The 35-year-old burly spearhead is set to break Selwood’s record against Gold Coast in Round 10, but the fact the game is in Darwin may prompt the Cats to hold him back for the following week against GWS in Geelong.
