The Finley product could not have his usual commanding impact on the contest, held to a single first-half goal as the Tigers stormed back from a 22-point deficit to claim their third premiership in four years.
It was Hawkins’ goal that gave the Cats their game-high margin, slotting a set shot from 50 m late in the second quarter to help his side take complete control of the contest and get scoreboard reward for its territorial domination.
He also opened the game's scoring by pushing a set shot across the face, while his other score for the contest proved to be a crucial one, playing on quickly from a mark deep inside 50 and missing late in the third term when his side desperately needed a goal.
The 2020 Coleman medallist finished with 10 disposals to go with 1.2 and three marks, although seven of his touches were handballs.
Post-match, Hawkins told ABC Grandstand his side had not done enough when the game was on the line.
“It's difficult. Internally we believed our best was good enough,” he said.
“We certainly showed that up until half-time. Credit to Richmond, they were fantastic.
“You've got to take more risks when you're down and they didn't pay off.”
Hawkins, 32, is an unrestricted free agent, but is almost certain to remain at Geelong with a two-year contact extension expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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