Jack Hawkins

Hailing from Finley in the Riverina, Jack Hawkins arrived at Geelong with a reputation as a prodigious athlete, having been a schoolboy high jump champion at Melbourne Grammar. That vertical leap defined his football career, earning him the moniker "Jumping Jack" and establishing him as one of the premier aerial defenders of the 1970s. A high-flying centre-half back, Hawkins was renowned for his ability to soar over packs and pull down spectacular intercept marks, turning defence into attack with flair. His standout season came in 1976, where his dominance in the air saw him poll an impressive 22 Brownlow Medal votes—a rarity for a key defender.

Despite being a fan favourite and a regular Victorian representative, Hawkins' career was cut short at just 27 due to a debilitating knee injury, forcing his retirement in 1981. However, his influence at Kardinia Park extended well beyond his playing days. Married to the daughter of former Cat Fred Le Deux, Hawkins became the patriarch of a modern Geelong dynasty, with his son Tom eventually drafted under the father-son rule to become a club legend and premiership hero in his own right. Hawkins remained deeply connected to the game in his post-playing years, serving as a long-term administrator for country football in New South Wales.