Grant Birchall signs contract extension with Hawthorn until 2019

FOUR-time Hawthorn premiership star Grant Birchall signed a contract extension with the Hawks several months ago, his manager has confirmed.

Grant Birchall has averaged 21.8 games a year for Hawthorn since 2008. Picture: Michael Klein

FOUR-time Hawthorn premiership star Grant Birchall has been awarded the contact extension that Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell were never offered.

Birchall, 28, has knocked back the chance to test the waters as an unrestricted free agent next year, signing a contract until 2019.

His manager Shane Casley confirmed to the Herald Sun that Birchall had signed the deal several months ago.

The Hawks had not announced Birchall’s deal in a turbulent off-season during which they nudged Mitchell, 34, and Lewis, 30, out the door to West Coast and Melbourne despite both having a year to run on their contracts.

Birchall has played 240 games as a durable, running half-back who is one of one seven four-time premiership players on the current list.

Grant Birchall has re-signed with the Hawks until 2019. Picture: Michael Klein

Casley said Birchall saw himself as a one-club player after averaging a remarkable 21.8 games a year since arriving for the 2006 season.

“We locked him away a little while ago. He is done until 2019,’’ he said.

The Hawks will also attempt to strike an early deal with star goalkicker Luke Breust after conjecture during the trade period about his future.

Hawthorn list manager Graeme Wright told his management during the trade period it would put an opening offer to Breust, 26, soon.

He has kicked hauls of 45, 40, 57, 52 and 47 goals in the past five seasons, so it is likely to be his most lucrative contract.

Breust’s manager, Neil McMullin, said the classy, lethal goalkicker was happy at Hawthorn and awaiting an offer from the club.

“That’s where it is at the moment,” McMullin said.

“No one is under any pressure. Everyone would agree that Luke’s next contract is important but there is no pressure.”