Retiring Geelong champion Tom Hawkins showed his class during a post-match interview after the Cats demolished West Coast by 93 points to secure a top-four spot on Saturday.
The club legend is on the comeback trail from a foot injury so didn’t feature in the match, but the final home game of the season served as a farewell to Hawkins and also Zach Tuohy, who announced his retirement earlier in the week.
There was a party atmosphere at GMHBA Stadium when the final siren sounded, with the fans thoroughly enjoying the massive win over the hapless Eagles.
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Tuohy and Hawkins both gave post-match interviews that were broadcast across the stadium.
While that was happening, West Coast players had gathered to form a guard of honour for the two players.
Hawkins was clearly mindful of that when speaking to Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones and cut short the interview to ensure the Eagles didn’t have to wait any longer.
“It’s a bit of a unique feeling, but it was an outstanding game to watch. I was chasing around the kids today, which was a bit different, but that’s what my last nine weeks has looked like,” he said.
“It’s obviously with a touch of sadness, but the time is right for me. I’ve achieved a lot throughout my career and it’s been fun.
“I’m conscious that the West Coast boys are here too, so we might even walk and talk.”
Hawkins then began to walk over towards the guard of honour before giving one quick answer on his hopes of featuring in the finals.
“I’m trying my best but if I fall short then I’ve achieved enough,” he said.
The moment wasn’t lost on the commentators with Jason Dunstall full of praise for Hawkins.
“I loved the fact that Tom Hawkins was mindful of the respect that the West Coast were paying by staying out there and didn’t want to put them through too much torture,” he said.
“They’ve been pumped by the best part of 100 points and they’re doing the right thing by staying out there … I loved the fact that he had them in the back of his mind.”
Fans also loved the moment.
“Tom Hawkins all class. Mindful the Eagles have to get back to Perth after a 93pt flogging but were waiting to give him & Tuohy a guard of honour so continued to give his interview but got the Fox Footy team to make it a walk & talk,” one fan said.
“Tom Hawkins saying he’s conscious that the West Coast boys are waiting there too so could they walk and continue their chat was really considerate of him. Made me like him more. Good bloke,” another added.
Hawkins then walked around the field to say goodbye the home fans one final time.
Chasing a huge margin to sneak provisionally into second place, the Cats produced an utterly dominant first half in the 26.12 (168) to 11.9 (75) victory on Saturday.
But it wasn’t quite enough for Chris Scott’s side to leap above Port Adelaide ahead of Sunday’s fixtures, which will decide the final starting grid for September.
Geelong spearhead Jeremy Cameron took advantage of West Coast’s undermanned defence to kick an equal career-best nine goals, including seven from as many kicks in the first half as the margin ballooned to triple figures before the main break.
It was the equal-biggest individual haul of any player this season and moved Cameron from equal-fifth to second in the Coleman Medal race behind runaway leader Jesse Hogan.
Ollie Henry also kicked an equal career-best haul with four majors, while Max Holmes (26 disposals), Patrick Dangerfield (25), Jack Bowes (24) and defender Jack Henry all shone in the Cats’ biggest win of the season.
Victory came at some cost, with All-Australian defender Tom Stewart substituted out as a precaution at half-time with a tight left hamstring.
Lawson Humphries also sat out the second half with a right calf issue.
Cameron snapped the opening two goals and Geelong rammed through the first seven – three of them to Ollie Henry – to lead 8.3 to 1.1 at quarter-time.
The statistics at that early stage already made horror reading for the visitors.
Geelong had more than twice as many disposals in the first term, scored from 11 of 14 forward entries, and even led the tackle count despite dominating possession.
A 10-goal second quarter gave the Cats an 18.6 to 2.2 buffer at the main break, and second spot was in their sights.
But the Eagles showed some fight, stemming the flow and narrowly outscoring their hosts during the second half.
Young gun Harley Reid (15 disposals) had an embarrassing fresh-air swing on the goal-line in the final term, but responded with two late goals.
Jake Waterman, Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps also finished with two each, while Elliot Yeo (25 disposals) and Tim Kelly (21) were the Eagles’ best ball-winners in a midfield that was comprehensively outplayed.
The result was West Coast’s 10th consecutive defeat at Kardinia Park, where they have a horror record of just one win and a draw in 16 appearances this century.
– With AAP