TOM Hawkins is comfortable with his situation despite talks on a contract extension not yet starting with Geelong.
The veteran forward is heading into the final season of a five-year deal in 2020.
“I am 32 next year, but physically I still feel really good, and I am enjoying my football probably as much as I ever have,” Hawkins said.
“I enjoy the group, and I would love to keep playing, but I am sure that will sort itself out.
“We haven’t had any discussions from my end or the club’s end, but I am sure they will take place at some stage during the year
“I am not really even sure how to approach it. I am about to finish a five-year deal, so it feels like it is almost a bit new to me again.”
Hawkins will enter next year sitting on 256 games and 554 goals, looking to become just the third Cat behind Gary Ablett Senior and Doug Wade to kick 600 majors in the Hoops.
He doesn’t expect his role to change significantly despite the addition of former Adelaide star Josh Jenkins during the off-season.
“I think I’d still like to be relatively flexible with my role and play deeps at times, and with different opposition sides and the way they play, playing deep will suit me,” Hawkins said.
“In saying that I also like to get up the ground and get more involved in the game a bit more, so as games come around I think it will be dependent on who we play and their game style and how we want to play as a team, but I would like to think I can still be relatively flexible.
“I think it is really hard in modern footy playing deep permanently.
“We have seen players be really good at it, but not for four quarters, it is really hard to stay deep and have a real impact.
“But hopefully with Sav (Esava Ratugolea) and Josh we will be able to be flexible with how we play and constantly get opposition backlines guessing what we are trying to do.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
