Three-time Geelong premiership star Tom Hawkins has announced he will retire at the conclusion of Geelong’s 2024 AFL campaign. The Cats’ games record-holder informed his teammates of the news on Tuesday morning, the news coming within minutes of Richmond legend Dustin Martin announcing his own retirement,

Hawkins – nicknamed “The Tomahawk” – has played 359 games for Geelong and booted 796 goals. He was a member of Geelong’s 2009, 2011 and 2022 premiership teams and also claimed the 2020 Coleman Medal for most goals in an AFL season.

Related: From the Pocket: if Tom Hawkins has played his last game, he bows out with nothing more to prove

Hawkins arrived in the AFL in 2007 as a third-generation Cats player, having followed his maternal grandfather Fred Le Deux and father Jack Hawkins into the navy blue hoops and quickly became a 103kg, 197cm titan of the game.

After playing his junior football with Finley in NSW and Sandringham Under 18s, Hawkins was drafted with the 41st selection in the 2006 National Draft under the father-son rule, kicking three goals on debut in a 78-point victory over Carlton.

By 2011, Hawkins had cemented his spot as the Cats’ spearhead, and with his strong marking hands and set-shot expertise, went on to be Geelong’s leading goalkicker every year from 2012-2022. His prowess in front of goal belied a selflessness that also saw Hawkins dish off 296 goal assists and 2,011 score involvements in his career.

Hawkins claimed five All Australian honours (2012, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) and was named All-Australian Captain in 2022. Geelong Cats General Manager Andrew Mackie, a teammate of Hawkins’ from 2007-2017, hailed the big Cat as “a generational player.”

“Tom has been an incredible presence on and off the field at Geelong for the past 18 years, with his ability to play consistently at an elite level, along with humility and care for his teammates, trademarks of his career,” Mackie said.

Hawkins, 36, has been hampered by a foot injury in 2024 that has sidelined him since round 15 but Geelong are hoping he will return soon to help the Cats’ push towards another finals campaign.