Hawthorn footy star and his glamorous partner announce incredible family news just days after heartbreaking end to team’s season

Hawthorn’s season may have ended in disappointment, but there were bright spots for versatile Blake Hardwick, who made a special announcement following the Hawks’ loss to Port Adelaide.

The rising club’s incredible run in 2024 came to an end when they lost their semi-final by just three points – 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) – to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval last Friday night.

However, after the loss there was also good news for one of the players.

Hardwick shared a photo in the warehouse with his partner Steph Tonkins, who has a growing baby bump, announcing the impending arrival of their first child.

“We love you, little one,” Tonkins wrote.

Blake shared the image with three love heart emojis.

The post has been liked by a number of Hawthorn teammates including Jack Gunston, Will Day, James Worpel, Jai Newcombe, Lloyd Meek and Conor Nash.

A number of other AFL players, both former and current, also liked the post, including former Hawk Bradley Hill, Dan Hanneberry, Christian Petracca and Tom Mitchell.

Hardwick has been one of the most consistent players for the Hawks this season, at both ends of the court

Tonkins is a glamorous reformer Pilates studio and mobile mat Pilates instructor who is building a large online following with her instructional videos.

Hardwick was drafted in 2015 and quickly developed into a reliable defender.

His consistency and tough approach to the game earned him the Peter Crimmins Medal as Hawthorn’s best and fairest player in 2018.

In 2024, the 27-year-old was deployed as an all-round player by coach Sam Mitchell and has built a new reputation as a reliable handyman.

“I think I’m flexible and can play both sides,” Hardwick said earlier this season.

“It’s different every week. Sometimes I start as a forward, sometimes as a defender, depending on the match-ups 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 2024 squad

Hardwick also spoke about the influence Mitchell had on the playing group during their meteoric rise.

“Sam is great, we don’t have any outside noise at all,” said Hardwick.

‘As a coach he can be quite brutal at times, but inside he is all love and the boys love him.

“He has created a style of play that is certainly interesting for people from the outside to watch.”

After starting the season with five losses, the Hawks recorded their first finals victory since winning the title in 2015.

In the two years they played under Mitchell they developed an exciting brand of football.

But now they must deal with the pain of coming so close to a preliminary final against Sydney.

“I’m really sad the season is over,” Mitchell told reporters at Adelaide Oval.

‘So many people have put in so much effort to get us to this point and to finally have it finished is not a strong enough word: disappointment.

“Of course there is a certain pride and I’m sure that will come with time, but at the moment I’m sad for the players and the fans. I think everyone enjoyed what we did, and we just weren’t good enough.

‘We’ll have to learn to live with that and let it motivate us next year.’

Related to Dimma?

Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick

The Hardwick name is very famous in the AFL, mainly because it is the surname of Damien ‘Dimma’ Hardwick who won the Premier League twice as a player and three times as coach of Richmond. So is Blake a chip of the old block? 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 also goes by the nickname ‘Dimma’, like Damien. He was given the nickname during his junior years by Eastern Ranges coach Darren Bewick, a former teammate of Damien’s, and passed it on during training.