George Hawkins (footballer)

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).

George Hawkins
Personal information
Date of birth 7 December 1908
Place of birth Brunswick, Victoria
Date of death 20 July 1979(1979-07-20) (aged 70)
Place of death Chiltern, Victoria
Position(s) Forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1932–1946 Prahran 151 (657)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1947.

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,[1] and played 59 district cricket matches for the Prahran Cricket Club.

See also edit

References edit

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