Geelong star Tom Hawkins must fight to overturn a one-match striking ban at the AFL tribunal if he is to play in Friday night’s blockbuster preliminary final against Richmond.
Hawkins was running alongside Will Schofield in the third quarter of the Cats’ semi-final win over West Coast at the MCG on Friday night, when he swung at the defender and caught him in the side of the head.
The force of the round-arm blow stunned Schofield, who crashed to the turf and and was still prone when a sheepish Hawkins went back to check on him.
Match review officer Michael Christian assessed the incident as intentional conduct, high contact and low impact, which draws a one-match suspension.
If the Cats challenge the charge at the tribunal and fail, they won’t risk it becoming a two-game ban.
Superstar teammate Patrick Dangerfield did his best to play down the likelihood of an adverse finding by the MRO in an interview on 3AW on Saturday.
“I’ve seen the (Hawkins) incident. What I will say is what I think in recent weeks in the AFL is moving away from suspensions,” Dangerfield said.
“I agree with the AFL’s approach. You want the best players out there playing so I’d hope there’s consistency in that.”
No players were suspended after the first week of finals, with GWS forward Toby Greene and West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui among those to receive fines rather than bans.
If Hawkins’ ban isn’t overturned, the burly full-forward will leave a huge hole in Geelong’s attack, where he’s booted 56 goals this season, which is 23 more the Gary Ablett, who’s second on the club’s goal-kicking list.
Hawkins had enjoyed an exemplary disciplinary record for most of his 256-game career but the two-time premiership star has now run foul of the match review process nine times since the 2016 season.
He’s been charged with striking six times and been suspended for a total of six matches, including his latest ban.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said that he deliberately avoided watching a replay of the clash.
“In part because I didn’t want to talk about it tonight,” Scott told reporters.
“So I’ve just got nothing to add, unfortunately.”
The incident overshadowed a match-winning performance from Hawkins, who booted four goals and took four contested marks in a dominant display.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Noooo. Disappointing AFL fix but no further excuses. Cats win anyway, Even if I disappear, please get rid of of spousemouse.
Squiggly
Roar Rookie
The inside of his arm hit him, not the clenched fist.
Brett
Guest
You have no idea what was going through Schofield’s head except Hawkins fist - look again, it was closed. It was just a Coward’s Punch. Hawkins is a thug, proven by his record of 9 infringements in 2 years.
Brett
Guest
:angry: Everywhere else, this is called a Cowards Punch. Closed fist, unexpected, head shot, intentional. Hawkins has history too. One week is disgraceful.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Wow ! ' . . . it was well known via the retired players that Jack Dyer was one of the biggest cowards to have ever played the game.' Hardly irrefutable evidence, Maxine. On a par with 'they reckon such and such.' Your criticisms of people here are often unsubstantiated yet you come out with this tripe! Geesh.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
We'll let Hawkins running past you, momentum there, swinging arm, at 102 kg, hit you with the softest part of his arm,shall we? We'll see whether you dive or fall
Tezza
Roar Rookie
It was was his inside forearm, the softest part of the arm. And he dived for a free
Realist
Guest
I think Maxine may be just trolling!
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
An AFL star named Tom Hawkins For the prelim set eveyone talkin Is a fine asking more Than the other's before? If not there's the chance he'll be walkin
Slane
Guest
Norm Smith on Jack Dyer: "Dyer was no cowardly football basher. He was one of the three greatest footballers the game has produced, probably the greatest. His strength and courage were a spur to his side. He lifted and inspired them to unbelievable heights. "He would have stamped himself as the most brilliant footballer in the game had he played as an individual rather than for his team. It was always Richmond first, Dyer last, with Captain Blood." Not sure which footballers you were talking to as a young girl in the 80's Maxine. They obviously had no clue.
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
Many years ago, I worked with an ex North Melbourne ruckman who played in the 40’s against Jack Dyer during the latter part of his career. He told many a story, about many footballers of that era, but often said that Dyer had an aura about him that no one else had. I was told that he was a most respected captain who led by example, who never flinched when the heat came on him. I know we are talking about a different era, long gone, but it sounded like he was a giant (figuratively) of his time. Sometimes it’s easy to be flippant about past greats, but I think we should show them respect for the battles they fought all those years ago.
Maxine
Guest
Hi Neil,when I was a young girl in the 80's,it was well known via the retired players that Jack Dyer was one of the biggest cowards to have ever played our game. What do you know about him that would lead you to believe otherwise? What stories have you heard that differ from mine?
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
You obviously don’t know much about Jack Dyer Maxine. I hope that in 70 years time, we haven’t ‘rewritten history’ about our modern day greats.
Maxine
Guest
Why would we want another Jack Dyer? A coward who went after the smallets players on the field? Some people love rewriting history to suit themselves.
Larrikin
Roar Rookie
Hawkins proves once again he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed
Seymorebutts
Guest
No Hawkins.... no chance.. He was lucky to only get one week IMO...
Peter
Guest
So the AFL is issuing fines because banning players or illegal acts, particularly high shots, is such a bad look and TV gets upset. Let’s go back to the days of Captain Blood when anything went and the Shinboners really earned their name. Or wait for the first serious concussion or broken neck to sue the proverbial out of these money-grubbing creeps. Or change the rules to define where a player can be on the ground, not by zones but by whether they can carry a trident and net or a sword and buckler.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Hawkins deserves a week for stupidity. Just about every time they decide to tighten up ala jumper punching etc Hawkins is the patsy. He should've learnt by now. How Green got off is a complete mystery.
Phil
Guest
Danm, that really sucks. I'm an Eagles supporter but I was probably going to go for Geelong for the rest of the finals but I can't see them getting past Richmond, especially not without Hawkins.
Nick
Roar Guru
A completely foolish decision by Hawkins. He could very well cost his team the season.