Jack Hawkins, the father of champion Geelong forward Tom, believes his son has been frustrated at his treatment by opponents and says the tribunal system needs to be revamped after the full-forward was suspended again for jumper punching.
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Hawkins snr, 62, one of the most outstanding backmen of his time at Geelong, believes the tribunal system is "flawed" and adding undue pressure to his son and other forwards.
"No one sees what happens to players like Tom when the ball's 100 metres away. It's just when he's been pulled in two directions, not by the sleeve but by the jumper. What more could he do? I played back all my life. I know the tricks defenders get up to. But it's so disappointing because Tom has been playing really well," Hawkins said.
The huge forward will miss next Saturday's vital game against Richmond following the suspension, with the club's problems compounded with Mitch Duncan also on the sidelines from suspension and captain Joel Selwood needing ankle surgery.
Hawkins snr, from Finley in NSW, said he'd worked closely in the Murray Football League with appointing tribunals and wasaware of the "responsibility" of having an efficient and fair tribunal system.
"I just wonder about the current system and the fairness of it. How can Tom's prior record be taken into account before he's found guilty? Jonathan Brown, a great forward, rightfully went to the AFL about incidents to forwards this season. It seems the system is all over the shop," he said.
"I don't comment on Tom's playing career, I leave that to others. But I felt that the circumstances as to why he won't be in the side for the next two weeks is a conversation that had to be had."
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He added: "For the past 15 years in the local league here, we are very mindful of the responsibility the tribunal has. It's down on a voluntary basis where members of the board are reappointed on performance."
Former Geelong captain Mark Bairstow said on Tuesday that Hawkins' absence is the biggest gap for the Cats to fill against Richmond next Saturday.
"He's enormously important. He's a strong man that has to take two players who are just hanging off him and I can see his frustration.
"Let's hope for the Cats' sake, without the Hawkins way to goal, that perhaps that four or even five other options might be created.
"I think victory on Saturday is manageable," Bairstow said. "Those chosen to play have to step up and show what they're worth. If they can't fire now, they never will.
"It will put a very strong light on the list at Geelong to see how really good it is or not. The middle-order players must realise that this is an opportunity to cement a position or show what you're worth."
