George Hawkins (footballer) explained

George Hawkins
Birth Date:7 December 1908
Birth Place:Brunswick, Victoria
Death Place:Chiltern, Victoria
Position:Forward
Statsend:1947
Years1:1932–1946
Club1:Prahran
Games Goals1:151 (657)

George William Hawkins (7 December 1908 – 20 July 1979)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Prahran in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

Hawkins was a full-forward and centre half-forward for Prahran during the 1930s. He began his senior career in 1932, and became a prolific goalkicker during the era. He scored his first century of goals in the 1934 season, kicking 107 goals.[2] He was a premiership player with Prahran in 1937, and kicked six goals in that season's Grand Final.[3] In 1939, Hawkins kicked a new Association record of 164 goals and was the VFA leading goalkicker for the only time in his career; his record surpassed Western Australian George Doig's national senior record of 152 goals, although Hawkins' claim to the record was disputed because the VFA, having introduced the throw-pass rule in 1938, was no longer considered to be playing the national code.[4]

Hawkins retired during the 1940 season due to ongoing difficulties with an ankle injury; at this stage, he had a career total of 596 goals.[5] But, he returned to play in September that same year,[6] and was still with the club in 1946, leading the club as captain its Association rules exhibition match in Broken Hill following that season.[7] After he retired altogether, he had played a total of 151 games and kicked 657 goals for Prahran.[8]

Hawkins also played cricket in summer during his career. He played one first-class match for Victoria against Tasmania in Launceston in 1933/34, and played 59 district cricket matches for the Prahran Cricket Club.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: George Hawkins. ESPN cricinfo. 18 January 2014.
  2. News: The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. Coburg wins first semi-final. 10 September 1934. 14.
  3. News: The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. Prahran in form. 30 August 1937. 15.
  4. News: The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. Gallant win by W'Town. 2 October 1939. 13. Rover.
  5. News: The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. Hawkins retires. 16. 7 June 1940.
  6. News: The Argus. 9. Brunswick's bid. 9 September 1940. Melbourne, VIC.
  7. News: Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW. 3. 16 October 1946. Coburg and Prahran teams here at week end.
  8. News: The Age. 21 July 1979. VFA ace dies. 35. Melbourne, VIC. Marc Fiddian.