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Garry Hocking
Played 274 games, kicking 243 goals for Geelong, 1987-2001
Played in 21 finals, kicking 21 goals
133 career Brownlow Medal votes
Geelong best and fairest 1991, 1993-94, 1996
State representative on eight occasions
All-Australian 1991, 1993-94, 1996
Geelong Captain 1995, 1999
Geelong Team of the Century

THERE have been few tougher players to wear the blue and white hoops than Geelong champion Garry 'Buddha' Hocking. Always at the bottom of the pack, Hocking's career really began to flourish under Malcolm Blight's reign as coach.

The Cats pushed hard for a premiership throughout the late 1980s and early 90s but fell short on each occasion. That was no fault of Hocking's, whose skill on either side of his body was a feature throughout his 274-game career at Kardinia Park.

The fearless competitor had numerous placings in the Brownlow Medal throughout his career, a testament to how much of an influence he had during some of the Cats' most exciting years – all this when playing alongside names such as Ablett, Brownless, Couch and Bairstow.

A captain of Victoria and four-time club best and fairest, injury eventually made it tough for Hocking to train, let alone play. But no matter what state his battered body was in, he will always be remembered for his aggression on the field, and doing whatever it took to get his hands on the ball first.