HAWTHORN forward Paul Puopolo has signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to the club until at least the end of 2017.
The popular two-time premiership player has been rewarded after he booted 22 goals last year and was one of four Hawks to play every match.
But the 27-year-old's willingness to get his hands dirty chasing and tackling in the forward line is valued just as highly by coach Alastair Clarkson.
Puopolo has built a hard-earned reputation as one of the competition's pressure kings since he arrived at Waverley from Norwood as the 66th pick in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
He rated highly for tackles (2nd), free-kicks won (2nd) and goal assists (5th) for the Hawks last season and earned his first top-10 placing (9th) in the Peter Crimmins Medal.
He led the League for forward half pressure acts in 2014 and laid the most tackles in that part of the ground, according to Champion Data.
"That repeat chasing and making a team stuff-up and miss a handball is something that most people don't think about if they see it in the vision," Puopolo told AFL.com.au last month.
"That's probably my goal in a game is to make people do stuff like that. If I can do that, that's when I rate myself highly in a game - not for kicking five goals or having 30 touches.
"That ambition to tackle people and create opportunities for others is why 'Clarko' and the coaching staff are pretty impressed with me and keep me in the side."
Puopolo missed out in multiple drafts and said he derives part of his determination from having to work harder than most to kick-start his AFL career.
The 173cm pocket rocket has grabbed his chance, booting 69 goals from 88 career games.
