GWS have finalised new deals for duo Lachie Keeffe and Cooper Hamilton following the expiry of the player exchange period, leaving all but one player locked in at the Giants for 2024.
Keeffe's future was up in the air as the Giants looked to lure Adelaide tall Elliott Himmelberg east to link up with his brother, Harry. However the Crows ended up viewing the 25-year-old as a required player who is under contract for next year.
The Giants' unsuccessful pursuit of Himmelberg is a positive for Keeffe, who officially re-signed with GWS the day after the trade period's conclusion with a new one-year deal.
The extension will see the former Magpie head into a seventh season in the orange and charcoal and 16th in the AFL - two of which were under suspension for testing positive for a banned substance in 2015.
Hamilton's new deal will see his services with the Giants extended into a third year after he was recruited to the club via the 2021 Rookie Draft.
The young utility has played eight games over two seasons so far with the Giants - split evenly at four games per campaign.
A foot injury would limit Hamilton to a short season this year, with his last appearance for the club at either level coming in April.
โLachie and Cooper are much-loved members of our group,โ GWS football boss Jason McCartney said in a club statement.
โLachie provides us with great versatility as a tall who can play key roles back, forward and in the ruck.ย
โCooper had some injury challenges this year but has worked his way back to full fitness and will hit the ground running this pre-season.โย
The pair of extensions leave veteran midfielder Callan Ward as the last remaining player the Giants are yet to announce a new contract for.
The New South Wales side enjoyed a strong year on the retention front, re-signing Tom Green, Harry Himmelberg, Lachie Ash, Kieren Briggs, Jake Riccardi, Finn Callaghan and many others throughout the course of 2023.
