Sam Cipriani was influential for Tongala in its clash against Nathalia.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
On a weekend with rivals pitted against each other across Murray Football league, the spotlight was firmly on Finley Recreation Reserve, with a favourite son making his long-awaited return.
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Pulling on the blue and white hooped guernsey with the number 26 he made famous on his back, Tom Hawkins honoured a long-standing contract with former Finley president Ash Haynes in the big clash against Deniliquin on Good Friday evening, with throngs of fans lining the ground to catch a glimpse of “Tomahawk” in action.
It wasn’t just fans, either, that made the journey to watch Hawkins grace the field for the first time since he played his 359th and final AFL game for Geelong, with Melbourne media even taking an interest in the clash.
Speaking to The Age, Hawkins said he remembered the Deniliquin fixture as one that was circled on the fridge as a junior, and his return against the Rams was big for the club, but more than anything, the former AFL Cat was simply giving back to his home town.
“It’s sort of fulfilling that part of the contract obligation, but it’s always home for me and the footy club has been great in supporting me in my journey,” Hawkins said of gracing the field for Finley once again.
“It’s kind of a big celebration of what the community around here means to my family, and to me.”
His presence couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for Finley, either, with the Cats still reeling from the 170-point thumping they received the previous weekend in the highly-anticipated grand final rematch against Congupna, and still in search of their first win of the season.
Nathalia skipper Tom Nihill helped his side to their second win of the season.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The Cats, perhaps buoyed by the inclusion of the three-time AFL premiership star, started strongly, putting the first two majors of the game on the board, but the loudest roar was saved for the 20-minute mark, with Hawkins slotting his first goal for Finley since he was a junior to hand the Cats a three-goal lead on the stroke of quarter-time.
Deniliquin snuck one back before the siren, however, and refused to go away at the start of the second, however Hawkins, playing alongside cousins Lachlan and Fraser, slotted yet another major midway through the second term to help the Cats keep hold of a 10-point lead at the main break.
The Rams were right in the contest as they ran out for the third term, but by the time Hawkins had kicked goals number three and four, the game looked to be done and dusted, with the spearhead propelling Finley to a game-high 28-point lead.
Nathalia's Charlie Sheehan boots the ball forward.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Just one-goal apiece in the final quarter was enough to see the Cats over the line, as Hawkins, who finished with four majors, provided the difference for Finley in the 9.10 (64) to 6.13 (49) victory.
Elsewhere around the league, Moama delivered Echuca United its first loss of the season to clinch the four points in the Three Jacks Cup clash.
Recruit Jake Ellery, the 2023 Pearce medallist as the Picola District Football League best-and-fairest, looked to fill the sizeable hole left in the midfield by reigning Murray league best-and-fairest Jack Russell’s departure, named best-on-ground for the Magpies in the 13.7 (85) to 10.8 (68) triumph which lifts them inside the top four.
Tongala's Matthew Caia marks in front of Nathalia's Max Frostick.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Cobram continued its unbeaten start to the 2025 campaign with a bruising 152-point triumph over cross-river rivals Barooga, running out 26.16 (172) to 3.2 (20) winners courtesy of an eight-goal haul from returning forward Ben Ryan, who finds himself back at the Tigers after a two-year stint at Moonee Valley in the Essendon District Football League.
Nathalia and Tongala faced off at Nathalia Recreation Reserve, with the Purples getting the better of the Blues in a 15.10 (100) to 11.9 (75) victory.
Tongala's Nate Dear and Nathalia's Alex Hicks duke it out in a marking contest.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Liam Evans was monstrous for Nathalia, booting seven majors in a brilliant best-on-ground display up forward, as the Purples weathered a plucky Tongala in the 25-point victory to finish the round inside the top six.
Congupna continued its unblemished premiership defence with a 21.18 (144) to 7.3 (45) victory over Mulwala, with Jak Trewin bagging seven majors, while Numurkah beat Rumbalara 12. 15 (87) to 6.8 (44).
