Doug Hawkins

Douglas James Hawkins (born 5 May 1960) is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL who made a name for himself in the media in his post-football career. He ran for the Senate, as a member of Palmer United Party, in the 2013 Australian federal election.^[1]

Early career

Hawkins hailed from the industrialised, working class western suburbs of Melbourne, and although he was a North Melbourne supporter in his youth, competition zoning rules in effect prior to the adoption of a national draft, dictated that Hawkins' rights were 'zoned' to Footscray, given his suburb of residence was nearby Braybrook. He got his wish, making his VFL debut for Footscray in 1978 as a teenager.

Football career

Footscray

Hawkins made a name for himself over the ensuing years as one of the finest wingers the game has ever seen, so much so that at the team's home ground, the Western Oval, one of the wings of the ground was named the "Doug Hawkins Wing". Much has also been made about his rocky relationship with coach Mick Malthouse during the 1980s, but during Hawkins' Australian Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2004, Hawkins played this down. In 1994, Hawkins broke Ted Whitten's long-standing club record of 321 games for Footscray, and Whitten was on-hand to congratulate him.

Fitzroy

However, after playing 329 games and kicking 216 goals for the Bulldogs, Hawkins' contract was not renewed, and so he moved to the financially strapped Fitzroy Football Club for one last season in 1995. He played 21 games and kicked 11 goals for the club before announcing his retirement.

Career highlights

Playing career:

• 1978–1995 (Games: 350, Goals: 227)
• Footscray 1978–1994 (Games: 329, Goals: 216)
• Fitzroy 1995 (Games: 21, Goals: 11)

Player honors:

• Foots/WB Team of the Century
• Foots/WB Hall of Fame
• AFL Hall of Fame

Media career

Off the field, Hawkins was known as an old-fashioned Aussie larrikin, someone who himself acknowledged he was not one of the smartest people going around, but was always up for a laugh. As a panel member of the Nine Network's The Footy Show during the mid-1990s, he was often portrayed as the show's court jester.^[2] In 1998, Hawkins moved to the Seven Network and appeared on a Wednesday night rival to The Footy Show, Live and Kicking.

Politics

Hawkins is standing as a candidate for a Victorian Senate seat in the 2013 Australian Federal Election as a member of Palmer United Party.^[1]

Personal life

Hawkins is married to Raelene, who appeared on Fox Footy's Living with Footballers before it was axed at the end of 2004. They have three children – a son and two daughters. Doug currently resides near Bacchus Marsh and has served as a coach of the Bacchus Marsh Football Club.

See also

• Full Points Footy Bio
• AFL: Hall of Fame

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "AFL Legend Doug Hawkins stands for Palmer United Party". The Age. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-06-11. 
2. ↑ Lane, Patrick (12 June 2013). "Doug Hawkins tired of court jester label".