Geelong's 2011 premiership captain Cameron Ling has thrown his support behind struggling Cats big man Tom Hawkins and labelled 'ridiculous' suggestions that the power forward lacks the competitive spirit to consistently perform at the top level.
Hawkins has battled back stiffness throughout the year and has been rested from Saturday's clash against West Coast in Perth. His form has suffered over the past fortnight where he has managed just two goals and 16 touches combined in matches against North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.
But Ling, who was Hawkins' captain when the big forward tore Collingwood apart in the 2011 Grand Final, has backed the 25-year-old to rediscover his best before the finals series.
"He's had a reasonably good year, and he probably suffers in comparison to the very good years he had the previous two seasons," he told Sportal.
"He's the type of guy who will work his way through it and stand up in the big games against quality opponents and hopefully be a part of leading Geelong where they want to go to."
Hawkins was the target of booing from a contingent of the Geelong crowd last Saturday, prompting a stern defence form his coach Chris Scott, who described the reaction as completely inappropriate.
"I agree fully with Scotty's comments about people booing him or Bronx cheering him, that's just ridiculous because he's quality person, a quality player," Ling said.
"He's stood up on the biggest stage and has played a major role in winning a premiership."
Hawkins still suffers from a perception that his on-field presence does not match his 197cm and 100kg frame, but Ling said that was not on the mark and based on the polite manner the Melbourne Grammarian conducts himself off the field.
"It's an unfair perception of him. Tom Hawkins is a fierce competitor. He's a hard worker and a fierce competitor," he said.
"What he is off the field is just a really lovely guy, so people confuse his casual off-field demeanour for his on-field persona.
"If you put out a highlights package of his last two years and you'll see the way he launches into packs. He either marks or the entire pack gets obliterated with him jumping into it.
"The 2011 Grand Final day shows you what an unbelievably ruthless competitor he is. He was playing on the All-Australian centre half-back and he led a team to victory on the biggest stage against the best opposition.
"Any talk that he is anything but competitive, ruthless and hard and a top quality footballer, is ridiculous talk."
Hawkins comfortably leads Geelong's goalkicking this year with 45 goals, his second-best season on record, while he is jointly on top with James Podsiadly in terms of contested marks.