Cornes defends Hawkins’ All-Aus captaincy

EYEBROWS were raised following the announcement of the All-Australian captaincy, with Geelong’s Tom Hawkins getting the nod.

This is despite the selected 22 containing four current club captains in Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, Melbourne’s Max Gawn, Gold Coast’s Touk Miller and Sydney’s Callum Mills.

The selectors have set a precedent for this, with the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin and Alex Rance named AA skipper in recent years.

Kane Cornes, who is on the selection panel, felt the Geelong veteran was the clear choice.

“[Selecting the captain] is sort of the last thing that you did, and I was pretty strong on the fact that Tom Hawkins should be the captain of the team,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.

“Essentially it was basically unanimous, I think most people in the room were in agreeance that Tom Hawkins, with his fifth All-Australian blazer, the selfless team-first role that he has played for such a long period of time, I think his ability to sense moments in games and produce under pressure like a great captain does, I thought that gave him a real advantage in being named captain of this team.

“Max Gawn has been captain of the All-Australian team before and is also an outstanding leader, Touk Miller was in the conversation, Patrick Cripps, I mean, those two players’ sides didn’t make the finals so you look at that.

“I didn’t think there would be any controversy or criticism over Tom Hawkins being captain, I almost thought he was the obvious choice.

“Lance Franklin has captained this team before, he hasn’t been captain of this team, Patrick Dangerfield has captained this team before, he’s never been a captain of his team, so just because you’re not a captain of your side doesn’t mean you can’t captain the All-Australian team.

“I’m thrilled for Tom Hawkins. I think it’s such a well-deserved honour.”

Hawkins and the Cats will be preparing for their qualifying final clash with Collingwood following the bye.

– BY NIC NEGREPONTIS/ SEN