TOM HAWKINS must feel a bit like David Warner.
Australian Test cricketer Warner made three successive ducks in the Ashes series in England, while Geelong spearhead Hawkins hasn't kicked a goal in his past three games.
So it might comfort Cats fans to learn that Hawkins has never been held goalless in four consecutive outings.
The 31-year-old also has a solid recent record against reigning premier West Coast, Geelong's opponent in the cut-throat semi-final at the MCG on Friday night.
Hawkins has kicked exactly three goals in each of his past five games against the Eagles, including 3.3 in a strong showing in Geelong's 58-point win at GMHBA Stadium in round six.
Such positive memories might well help provide the circuit-breaker for his worst scoring slump in a season in nine years.
Tom Hawkins was named in the 2019 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team.
The only other time Hawkins has failed to nail a goal three games in a row was from round 18-20 in 2010, but back then he'd just turned 22, was still growing into his huge frame and was very much trying to close the gap between potential and performance.
Before his current lapse, Hawkins had been goalless only 11 times in his previous 166 games – including just once in his previous 29 appearances.
There was little to suggest his output would drop so dramatically this time.
In Geelong's 55-point win over North Melbourne under lights at GMHBA Stadium in round 21, Hawkins produced game-high tallies of marks (13) and six scoring shots (six). He blazed 2.4, slotting his second major 18 minutes and 54 seconds into the last quarter.
That was on Saturday August 10. 'Tomahawk' hasn't put one through the big sticks since.
In his three subsequent games he has tallied just six behinds.
His triple-whammy began with 0.2, including a poster from long range, in the one-point loss to Brisbane in the top-of-the-table clash at the Gabba in round 22. Hawkins was opposed to Marcus Adams, one of the best players afield.
He was then held completely scoreless for just the fourth time since early 2011 – and the second time this season – when he was soundly beaten by young Carlton defender Jacob Weitering in a 68-point win at a wet and windy GMHBA Stadium.
Not even a much-needed confidence boost courtesy of his second All Australian selection could snap Hawkins out of his scoring funk.
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In the 10-point loss to Collingwood in the qualifying final at the MCG on Friday night, Hawkins' 0.4 – his most inaccurate goalless return – was a source of frustration in a tight encounter.
Marked by Jordan Roughead, the man-mountain missed an elementary shot from point-blank range early, and inside the final three minutes he blew a chance to drag the Cats to within six points by dropping a regulation mark in the goalsquare.
The 255-game veteran's cause hasn't been helped by the minor premier's inconsistency, but there's no baulking a worrying trend in his finals performances.
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Since his coming-of-age heroics in the 2011 Grand Final triumph, Hawkins and Geelong have generally underwhelmed in September.
In 12 subsequent finals (in which the Cats have lurched to a 3-9 record) Hawkins has tallied just 17.14 – comprising returns of 0.2 (in a loss), 2.1 (win), 1.1 (loss), 1.2 (loss), 5.3 (loss), 2.0 (win), 1.1 (loss), 1.0 (loss), 1.0 (win), 1.0 (loss), 2.0 (loss) and 0.4 (loss).
In this eight-season period his goal average in finals is just 1.4, little more than half of his minor-round average of 2.7.
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Forwards are often only as good as the opportunities they receive, but in Geelong's past five finals defeats Hawkins has managed just 5.5. Well below par for a player who will this season win the Cats' goalkicking award for an eighth time – behind only Doug Wade (11), Gary Ablett senior and Percy Martini (nine) at the club.
That the big Cat hasn't been getting enough cream partly explains why Geelong has produced its lowest scores of the season in each of the past four finals series.
Carlton's great Mark Maclure warned the dual premiership key forward "needs to lift" if the Cats are to challenge the Eagles.
"Tommy Hawkins is in terrible form. His kicking's poor, his marking is average, he's not touching the ball as well as he was," Maclure told Fox Footy on Wednesday night.
"It's about building your reputation in finals – he's not doing that. He hasn't kicked a goal for a month. They can't win without him."
And as Maclure pointed out, Hawkins is unlikely to be gifted anything by West Coast's superb defence led by Jeremy McGovern, Shannon Hurn, Will Schofield and Tom Barrass.
