- The Hawks lost to Port Adelaide by three points
- Fairy tale season ends after a shocking start
- There was a silver lining for a Hawks star
Hawthorn’s season may have ended in heartbreaking fashion, but there was a silver lining for versatile forward Blake Hardwick, who made a special announcement following the Hawks’ loss to Port Adelaide.
The club’s incredible run of promotion in 2024 came to an end when they lost their semi-final to Port Adelaide by just three points (11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72)) last Friday night at Adelaide Oval.
However, after the defeat, there was good news for one of the players.
Hardwick has shared a picture in the sheds with his partner Steph Tonkins, who has a developing baby bump, announcing the imminent arrival of their first child.
“We love you little one,” Tonkins posted.
Blake shared the image with three love heart emojis.
The post was liked by many Hawthorn teammates including Jack Gunston, Will Day, James Worpel, Jai Newcombe, Lloyd Meek and Conor Nash.
Many other AFL players, past and present, also liked the post, including former Hawk Bradley Hill, Dan Hanneberry, Christian Petracca and Tom Mitchell.
Hawthorn player Blake Hardwick and teammate Steph Tonkins (pictured together) announced they were expecting following the Hawks’ semi-final loss to Port Adelaide.
Hardwick has been one of the Hawks’ most consistent players this season on both ends of the floor.
Tonkins is a glamorous reformer pilates studio and mobile mat pilates teacher who is developing a strong online following with her instructional videos.
Selected in 2015, Hardwick quickly established himself as a reliable defender.
His consistency and hard-nosed approach to the game earned him the Peter Crimmins Medal in 2018 as Hawthorn’s best and fairest player.
In 2024, coach Sam Mitchell has used the 27-year-old as a utility player and has built a new reputation as a reliable “Mr. Fix-it” guy.
“I like to think I’m adaptable and can play on either end,” Hardwick said earlier this season.
“It’s always different every week, sometimes I start up front, sometimes I start back, depending on the matchups and injuries in our team.”
The glamorous couple were photographed at a wedding earlier this year.
Hardwick has praised Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell for his influence on the team in 2024
Hardwick also spoke about the influence Mitchell had on the playing group during his meteoric rise.
“Sam is great, we don’t pay attention to the outside noise at all,” Hardwick said.
‘As a coach he can be quite brutal at times, but inside he is all love and the lads adore him.
“He has created this style of play, which I’m sure will be good for people outside.”
After starting the season with five losses, the Hawks recorded their first finals win since winning the championship in 2015.
In his two years under Mitchell, they have developed an electrifying brand of football.
But now they have to deal with the pain of being so close to a preliminary final against Sydney.
“I’m really sad that this season is over,” Mitchell told reporters at Adelaide Oval.
‘So many people put so much effort into getting us to this point and for it to end, it’s not a strong enough word, disappointment.
‘Obviously there’s some pride and I’m sure that will come out in time, but right now I’m sad for the players, I’m sad for the fans – I think everyone loved watching what we were doing, and we just weren’t good enough.
We’ll have to live with that and let it serve as a stimulus for next year.”
Relative of Dimma?
Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick
The surname Hardwick is a very famous one in the AFL, in large part because it is the surname of Damien “Dimma” Hardwick, who won two championships as a player and three as a coach for Richmond. Is Blake a descendant of the same father? The answer is no. Damien has three children, Ben, Isabelle and Imogen, but Blake is not one of them.
Blake has another connection to the Gold Coast Suns mentor, though. He is also nicknamed “Dimma”, just like Damien. The nickname came about during his youth days with Eastern Ranges coach Darren Bewick, a former teammate of Damien, who passed the nickname on to him during training.
