Australian Football

Deceptively fragile and even occasionally unkempt looking, Glenn Hawker boasted sublime all round skill, and was a key member of Essendon's great mid-1980s combinations. He started with the Bombers as a 17-year-old in 1978, winning the club's reserves best and fairest award, and making the first of an eventual 200 senior appearances. 

Hawker took several seasons to find his feet, but from 1981 he became a regular member of the league side, capable of playing equally effectively either on the ball or in a number of set positions. He was on a half back flank when Essendon downed Carlton to win the 1981 VFL night premiership, and the following season saw him selected to represent Victoria for the first time. By the middle of the decade he was playing as consistently well as any footballer in the league, and made significant contributions to the Dons' flag wins of 1984 and 1985. He also played in a second night premiership team in 1984. 

In 1986 Glenn Hawker won Essendon's best and fairest award and was selected on a half back flank in the prestigious 'Inside Football' Team of the Year. He crossed to Carlton in 1989 and added a final 27 senior games over three seasons, but by that stage of his career his best football was behind him.

Author - John Devaney