Hawthorn defender Changkuoth Jiath has penned a fresh extension at Waverley Park, set to remain in the brown and gold until 2027.
National Recruiting and list manager Mark McKenzie stated his excitement with Jiath's potential in a Hawthorn side quickly building.
"We firmly believe Changkuoth's best footy is ahead of him, and we're excited about what he can deliver for our footy club in this next phase of his career," McKenzie said.
"Changkuoth obviously possesses a special skillset, but what often goes unnoticed is the hard work that he's had to put in around the continuity of his body at the top level, which we've seen the benefits of in the back half this year.
"Changkuoth's ceiling remains incredibly high, and I'm sure the Hawthorn faithful are thrilled that he will be continuing his damaging run and dash for the brown and gold into the future."
Hawthorn have shown faith in Jiath after an interrupted start to his career, with the athletic speedster visiting a sports medicine facility in Qatar earlier this year to rehab his lingering hamstring problem. Last year Jiath managed just eight games at AFL level after persistent calf and Achilles complications.
Jiath has been a cult figure since his debut on a snowy night in Canberra in 2019, reaching the 50th game milestone in Round 14 against Richmond this season. He returned to action from quad and hamstring injuries in the second half of 2024, forming an 11-week patch of consistency before calf tightness ruled him out of last Sunday's Carlton clash.
His best performance this year came against West Coast in Round 16, amassing 18 disposals, seven intercept possessions and kicking a rare goal.
Jiath joins Conor Nash and Sam Frost as recent re-signings, with the latter pair announcing their recommitment just two weeks ago. Blake Hardwick also put pen to paper in June after rumours circulated on a free agency move.