CATS GOAL MACHINE FRONTS COURT OVER POINTS TALLY
CATS champ Tom Hawkins appeared in Geelong court yesterday in a bid to keep his driver’s licence.
His lawyer told Geelong Magistrates’ Court the footy star had been told by VicRoads that he had accrued 12 or more demerit points and was about to lose his licence.
But Hawkins, 30, says two recent infringements recorded in his car happened when his sister Edwina was behind the wheel. He applied to magistrate Peter Mellas for an extension of time so that he could nominate his sibling as the driver on those two occasions.
Mr Mellas said it was a “pretty standard” application, and granted the in-form forward’s request.
The court heard Hawkins took a closer look at his driving record after being notified by VicRoads on June 17 that his licence was in jeopardy.
He contacted VicRoads and Fines Victoria before making his brief appearance in court yesterday morning.
In August last year, Hawkins’ sister Jane lost her licence after drinking and driving and running a red light. A Magistrate convicted and fined Jane Hawkins, then 30, a total of $1250 and cancelled her licence for 16 months.
The court heard police observed her drive through a red light on La Trobe Tce.
“She was transported back to Geelong police station for a breath test … the test was conducted and a result of .160 was obtained,” a police prosecutor told the court at the time.
Hawkins has been in near career-best form this season.
After booting six goals in Geelong’s win over Fremantle on Saturday, he enters the final home-and-away game this weekend on 56 goals for the year, locked in a four-way battle for the Coleman Medal with Jack Riewoldt (60), Ben Brown (58) and Lance Franklin (57).