HAWKINS BEATS CHARGE
BIG CAT FREE TO TAKE ON EAGLES:
GEELONG has had a significant win ahead of its clash with West Coast, with spearhead Tom Hawkins cleared to play.
Hawkins was handed a one-match ban for an elbow on Fremantle’s Luke Ryan, but the suspension was reduced to a $1000 fine at Wednesday night’s remote tribunal hearing.
He pleaded guilty to the striking charge but argued contact was made with Ryan’s body, rather than high. igh
Hawkins’ presence will be vital against the Eagles on Saturday night, given experienced pair Gary Ablett (personal reasons) and Luke Dahlhaus (injury) will be missing.
Geelong would have been without 801 games of experience in its forward line had Hawkins been ruled out.
“The jury is not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the contact was high,” tribunal chairman David Jones said. “The jury is of the view th that the primary contact to the player was at the c collarbone and that any contact above the shoulders was negligible and not su sufficient to constitute h high contact.
“He is guilty of the o offence of striking; it is cl classified as intentional c conduct, body contact and lo low impact — a $1000 fi fine.”
A Fremantle medical re report showed Ryan had no tr treatment and did not miss a any of the game. The Docke er said contact was made to his collarbone, and Hawkins’ elbow slid to his neck.
Ben Ihle, acting for Hawkins, pointed out that Ryan’s initial reaction was to grab his collarbone.
Hawkins had been staring at his fifth suspension from a striking charge in as many seasons, but will instead line up at Optus Stadium.
He was also fined twice last year for the same charge.
Teammate Mitch Duncan this week described Hawkins’ recent run-ins with match review officer Michael Christian as “white line fever”. Hawkins’ fine was his 10th match review charge and his seventh striking charge in five seasons.
Hawkins, 32, did not receive a ban in his first 176 matches.
He missed last year’s preliminary final loss to Richmond after collecting West Coast’s Will Schofield high, a one-game ban that arguably cost Geelong a berth in the grand final.
Hawkins expressed regret in the off-season following that suspension, saying that he would work on his mental state in games.
“I’ve addressed those with our psychologist and we’ve looked at what I’ve done and how I can do it differently,” he said in March.
“I can’t say hand on heart it won’t happen again, but my intention is it certainly won’t.”