Revelling in the Riverina: Episode 14 – Hawkins country
REVELLING in the Riverina
The vintage years
Episode 14: Hawkins Country
Finley, NSW (the Cats, Murray FNL)
Stage 14: Jerilderie to Finley
Resuming our Riverina road trip we head south on the Newell Highway to Finley. Stage 14 will take less than half an hour. And what better song to accompany our drive than The Triffids – ‘Wide Open Road’:
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We are greeted by signs on the outskirts of Finley announcing – ‘Home of the 2020 AFL Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins’ and beneath ‘Crawford’s Town Home of the 1999 Brownlow Medalist’. Stand aside pioneer history, agriculture and industry …. we are advised to get straight to the real reason for our visit to Finley.
The AFL careers of Finley-raised Tom Hawkins and Shane Crawford briefly overlapped (in 2007-08). To have had two AFL stars, from a town of 2500 people, playing concurrently, speaks volumes for how well local talent has been fostered by the Finley Cats.
Tom’s father ‘Jumpin’ Jack Hawkins (182 VFL games) plus his uncles Michael and Robb Hawkins, all played for Geelong. The football genes were strong on both sides of Tom’s family. His maternal grandfather Fred Le Deux, from Nagambie, was also a Geelong footballer. Add Allan Jeans, David Murphy and a dozen more Finley players over the years, and you get the picture of very productive football recruiting territory. Welcome to Hawkins country.
Tom and Jack Hawkins
(source: NSW Australian Football History Society)
When Tom played his 350th game in round three 2024 he invited the Finley Football Club’s Under 14s footballers to form a guard of honour as he ran onto the MCG.
Tom Hawkins with the Finley Under 14s before his 350th game
(Finley Football and Netball Club on Facebook)
Finley joined the Murray League in 1933 after competing in the Southern Riverina Football Association. The Cats have won seven flags in the Murray League but it has been 36 years since their last premiership and five times runners-up along the way. The most successful eras for Finley were in the 1950s and the 1980s, when the club won three flags in each decade. The 1950s decade commenced with a loss to Numurkah but the club’s first MFL flag was just around the corner. To secure their maiden premiership (in 1952) the Cats had to do it the hard way by winning the grand final replay. Only a goal separated the close rivals, Finley and Deniliquin, when the final bell rang out at Tocumwal. It remains the first and only MFL grand final draw.
An inductee into the NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame and legendary VFL coach Allan Jeans was a member of Finley’s premiership-winning team in 1954. Although he was born in Finley, Jeans played his first senior football with Tocumwal. In 1952 he applied for a transfer to Finley but the ‘Bloods’ refused, causing him to sit out the season and miss a premiership. In more than a touch of irony, the two clubs met in the 1954 grand final, with Finley enjoying a 41 point victory. ‘Yabby’, as he was known from a young age, then joined St. Kilda, firstly as a player and eventually as their legendary coach.
David Murphy, the Sydney Swans speedy dynamo, was another recent inductee into the NSW Hall of Fame. Murphy was born and raised in Finley before moving to Turvey Park in Wagga Wagga where he was scouted by the Swans. In recognition of his sublime football skills he was selected on a wing in the Swans Team of the Century.
The early 1980s was a rich time for Finley when the club won back-to-back premierships (1981-82). In 1982 the Cats won flags in three grades – certainly a vintage year. The club’s last September success came in 1988 when they defeated Jerilderie in the grand final. Can the Cats contest again and go all the way in 2024?
Finley in 2024
In round 14 of the Murray League on Saturday 20th July Finley 7.15 (57) defeated Barooga 8.5 (53).
Finley sit second on the ladder below Congupna.
Riverina Spotto
A shearing team cut out and there are 5 to go.
| the last post | Irish pub | a slice of pizza |
| faithful canine | sheep and dog | the family club |
| 22 yards | two felines | 31.12.74 |
| truckie’s stop | submarine | a shearing team |
| all among the wool | one pub town | Sherrin |
| three bees | square | footy hub |
Next episode: Stage 15 – to Berrigan
Previous episodes of Revelling In The Riverina, and more from Peter Clark can be read Here.
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About Peter Clark
is a lifetime Geelong supporter. Hailing from the Riverina, he is now entrenched on the NSW South Coast. His passion for footy was ignited by attending Ovens and Murray League matches in the 1960's with his father. After years of watching, playing and coaching, now it is time for some serious writing about his favourite subjects… footy, especially country footy, and cricket.
Robb Hawkins made the Croweater state side in 1981. In his Football Times player profile that year, he nominated Haydn Bunton Jr, Rod Olsson and Finley’s Wal Mumford as his biggest football influences. His favourite food was seafood.
Keep them coming Peter. Here’s a few thoughts of mine.
We saw ‘Jumping Jack’s VFL debut back on Easter Saturday 1973. It was at that most imposing venue; Victoria Park. Collingwood romped it in, an easy 80 point win, 21.23.149 to 11.13.79. If Tim Evans was not playing Centre half back that day goodness knows what the final margin may have been.
Anyhow that was the start of ‘Jumping Jacks’ fine 182 game VFL career. I was also there at his last game, the 7 point loss in the 1981 Preliminary Final against Collingwood. That was the (in) famous Gary Sidebottom missing the bus match. After that it was back to the farm for ‘Jumping Jack’. Such is the life of the squattocracy.
Though I’ve not barracked for Geelong for many years I’ve followed Tom Hawkins career. Finding his feet in the 2011 Grand Final his has been a stellar career. Maybe at the end now but he’s been a wonderful footballer over the years.
Peter, Marcus, Baldwin: related?
Glen!
Swish, it’s interesting you mentioned Wally Mumford .
There is a great photo on the club web site of Wally leading the Finley Cats through the banner in the 1971 grand final.
http://www.finleycats.com/uploads/8/1/8/6/8186725/1971gf_orig.jpg
Glen, the Baldwins are almost certainly related, but I can’t nail it down.
That’s some photo Peter.
Great stuff once again, Peter.
Another good one Peter!
There’s always been bad blood between Finley & Tocumwal…
the Boods have a tab on their website “Bloody Finley”.
Like Allan Jeans, the father of the Hawkins brothers, Wynne, played for Toc. When he bought a farm closer to Finley he too sought a clearance from Toc. It was denied and he never played again.
In relation to Wally Mumford he was a classic football journeyman, originally from Broadford, who coached all around the bush, mostly in north-east Victoria and the southern Riverina with great success.
That’s an intense and long-standing rivalry. Thanks Rocket.
Revelling readers, take a look:
https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=0-6191-147841-392924-24911466&sID=382344