Hawthorn sharpshooter Jack Gunston re-signs with the Hawks
HAWTHORN sharpshooter Jack Gunston has signed a two-year contract extension and says he wants to stay at his second AFL club for the rest of his career.
Gunston, who was traded from Adelaide at the end of 2011, is now tied to the Hawks until the end of the 2016 season after finalising contract negotiations last week.
"I guess you never know what happens, but my main focus is to stay at Hawthorn for the rest of my career," Gunston told News Ltd.
"I never contemplated leaving, never thought about leaving, we worked our way through a deal.
"To change from one club to another is something I don’t want to do again. It’s not the most enjoyable thing."
Gunston kicked 46 goals in 2013 and lifted in September to kick 11 goals in three games to be named the Hawks’ player of the finals.
He was the most influential forward in the Hawks' Grand Final win against Fremantle, kicking 4.1 when others faltered in front of goal.
He said he would have to take his game to another level in 2014 after the departure of star forward Lance Franklin to the Sydney Swans.
"I think I will have longer stints playing deep forward … we all have to fill the Franklin void up forward," he said.
"I can be the centre half-forward, but at the moment I’m not the big contested mark centre half-forward, I’m more the running, versatile half-forward who can play the tall and small.
"We can’t play the same way as we did last year if we expect to make the Grand Final this year.
"If we keep doing the same things over and over it just won’t work."
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