Birchall signs three-year deal with Hawks

Young gun Grant Birchall is set to remain with Hawthorn until at least the end of 2009, after agreeing to a new two-year contract extension.

Football operations general manager Mark Evans said the Hawks were delighted to ink the new deal.

"The club has made a conscious decision over the past three drafts to add a large number of talented young players to our list," Evans said.

"While drafting talented players is crucial, just as important is the ability to keep this group of players together.

"Grant has shown great maturity on and off the field as a first and now second year player."

Birchall is one of the competition's rising stars. A 193cm running midfielder/half-back, he was selected at No.14 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, having impressed immensely in his first AFL season in 2006.

In that year he played 16 matches, including two exceptional performances in rounds 21 and 22, when he won 27 and 36 disposals respectively.

Birchall then finished sixth in the NAB AFL Rising Star Medal and was equal 10th in Hawthorn's best and fairest award.

He was also named the Hawks' best first year player.

Before being drafted, the Tasmanian won the Hunter Harrison Medal for the best division two player in the NAB AFL under 18 championships in 2005.