Geelong greats call for the Cats to stick by Tom Hawkins Tom Hawkins has a sore back. GEELONG greats have backed Tom Hawkins to perform against Fremantle amid calls for him to be dropped for Saturday's qualifying final. Hawkins has been badly hampered by a back injury all year and has kicked only three goals since Round 19. The Herald Sun recently exposed his lack of defensive pressure as Hawkins amassed just nine shots at goal and 30 possessions in the past four games. Joel drops Chappy hint But Geelong Brownlow Medallist Paul Couch and star forward Barry Stoneham said Hawkins' importance to structure dictated he must play. And Stoneham said Hawkins was selfless enough to tell coach Chris Scott if his back was too sore on game day. "I think he's worth persevering with," Stoneham said. I do feel for him because he's battling with that back injury and you can see it, but he is such an important player structurally. He is certainly below his best but as long as he competes, with those smaller guys around him, it is important to play him. He is a very honest fellow and if he's not right to play no doubt he would tell them. But from what I hear he can't get worse. Two weeks ago he had three shots on goal for three points. If he kicks those he has done his job. Fremantle will still be really watchful of him. Essendon goalkicking star Matthew Lloyd pondered this week whether Hawkins should be dropped or rested because he was a "liability" below his knees. Couch said Fremantle's tall timber - with ruck giant Aaron Sandilands a chance to push forward - meant the Cats could not swing Harry Taylor forward and drop Hawkins. He is too good a player to drop. Even if he is at 60 per cent he still gives you a fair bit," Couch said. Nathan Vardy has been injured and they have Josh Walker in the VFL, but if you compare Hawkins to the other kids in there, I think you always put your best players in and roll the dice. When we played finals we went with the best. Even if a bloke was out of form, you would think he had done it before so he can do it again. Hawkins had kicked 43 goals in 18 rounds but his form has tailed off in the past month. The 2011 Grand Final star has had three only effective tackles in his past three games from four physical pressure acts.