HAWTHORN has reached an agreement with free agent Luke Breust ahead of round one as it prepares for a new generation of premiership stars to lead the club into its next era.

AFL.com.au understands the 25-year-old sharpshooter recently came to terms with the Hawks, who traditionally like to tie up their out-of-contract stars early in the season. 

Although he would have been an attractive prospect to many clubs, the loyal Hawk had indicated his keenness to remain at the club beyond the end of next season and was never considered likely to leave. 

Breust's manager Neil McMullin said in February he expected the goalsneak to remain at the Hawks.

Breust has been a brilliant performer with the Hawks since making his debut in 2012 after joining the club as a rookie in 2009. 

He has kicked 271 goals in 140 games with the Hawks, becoming a triple-premiership player in the process. He has kicked a goal with every fourth kick he has had on average. 

Breust is one of only four AFL players to kick at least 40 goals a season in each of the past five seasons after kicking 30 goals in his debut season in 2011. 

The other three players to exceed 40 goals in every season since 2012 are superstar Lance Franklin (Sydney), Tom Hawkins (Geelong) and Jack Riewoldt (Richmond).

Hawthorn will enter 2017 under new captain Jarryd Roughead and without experienced premiership stars Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell, who were traded at the end of last season. 

The Hawks added emerging stars Jaeger O'Meara and Tom Mitchell from Gold Coast and Sydney respectively and also secured former Tiger Ty Vickery as a free agent.