Some players have single moments that encapsulate their careers. Leo Barry’s mark. Michael Long’s bouncing run and goal. Steve Johnson’s sideways set shot snap for goal.
Tom Hawkins could have many but he is still best defined by one. And for one of the great goalkickers of his generation his moment is not about him kicking a goal.
So,it is not when he pushed off Ben Reid in the third quarter of the 2011 grand final and in kicking goals,turned a grand final in an ultimate coming of age performance.
It is also not him kicking a goal after the siren in 2012 to beat Hawthorn in round 19,though this too would be equally true of a player who can shoulder a burden,carry his team and deliver in the clutch moment.
Nor is it one of the many occasions he has taken the ruck at a boundary throw-in in the forward pocket,held his ground in the front position,beaten the opposition’s first ruckman,taken the ball from the ruck and snapped a goal. He has now done it so regularly it is a set play that is rarely stopped and he is underrated for it.
No,the moment that sums up the man who has so far kicked 678 goals,won the Coleman Medal in 2020,and is leading the award this year has nothing to do with him kicking a goal. In fact,it is the very opposite of that.
The moment was in round three 2019 and Hawkins was deep in the forward line when Jordan Clark,in just his second game,spliced in front of Melbourne’s Nathan Jones and stole a mark. He ran into the suddenly open forward line,took two bounces and drawing Hawkins’ opponent was able to loop the ball over the top to his full-forward in the goal square.
Hawkins accepted the ball on the goal line turned and readied to kick. Then he paused. He had time enough to think and he thought better of kicking the goal. He turned back towards Clark and beckoned him in. He handballed the ball to Clark so he could kick his first goal.
In the coaches box Chris Scott laughed,agog with surprise and joy. In the commentary box,Matthew Richardson was equally startled and thoroughly impressed.