Hawthorn re-signs seven players (7 Updates)
Posted by Football NationJun 25. 2012 1:24 pm
IN a novel marketing approach the Hawthorn Football Club has taken to a slow reveal of player re-signings in what we at Football Nation can only assume is a means of providing entertainment to its fans between games.
On a post on their website, they wrote that “the concept conveys the importance that the Club puts on delivering messages direct to fans and strengthens the idea thathawthornfc.com.au is the place to go for all Hawks news.”
It’s an interesting approach and we’ll be watching closely to see if it works!
In the meantime we’ll be posting all the signings on this page, updating it as the week progresses to include the details for each re-signed player that the club announces.
Day 1 - Isaac Smith
Tue 19 Jun 2012
Smith, 23, was selected by the Hawks with the 19th pick in the 2012 Draft. The young speedster has played in 16 games for the club over the last two seasons.
His new deal is for two years, keeping him under contract with Hawthorn to the end of the 2014 season.
“For the club to want to sign me for another two years is a great opportunity and hopefully I can deliver on it,” Smith said.
Day 2 - Grant Birchall
Wed 20 Jun 2012
Birchall, 24, is described by coach Alastair Clarkson as someone who has “emerged as a very, very important player at our football club.”
Taken by the Hawks with the 14th pick of the 2005 Draft, Birchall has played 139 games for the club so far and after a terrific year last season the young defender was nominated for All-Australian selection.
His new deal is for three more years.
“Yeah it’s fantastic” said Birchall on the deal, ” the club’s heading in the right direction and I’m happy to be signing on for another three years.
Day 3 - Sam Mitchell
Thu 21 Jun 2012
Captain of the Hawks’ 2008 Premiership squad, Mitchell, 29, is a three time Peter Crimmins Medal winner and 2011 All-Australian. He has signed a one year deal that will take him through to the end of the 2013 season.
“It’s nice to get an extra year on the contract and have a little bit more security for my family,” Mitchell said.
“There’s not that pressure of the end of a contract coming up.”
Day 4 - Ryan Schoenmakers
Fri 22 Jun 2012
Key position defender Schoenmakers, 21, has signed a two year contract to remain with the club through to the end of the 2014 season.
Selected by Hawthorn with the 16th pick in the 2008 Draft the young defender has emerged a key player for the Hawks defence and this year has been matched up against big name fowards such as Travis Cloke (Collingwood), Josh Kennedy (West Coast) and Jonathan Brown (Brisbane).
“That’s a good learning curve for me especially at this stage of my career.
“(My goal) definitely just to keep improving and do it on a week-to-week (basis).”
Day 5 - Shane Savage
Sat 23 Jun 2012
The New Zealand born Shane Savage, 21, becomes the fifth signing announced by Hawthorn this week. Savage was 75th player selected in the 2008 Draft and his new three year deal will keep him with the club through to the end of the 2015 season.
The young midfielder has had to battle through injuries in the first few years of his career, debuting in 2009 he played no games in 2010 but bounced back with 17 games in 2011.
“I’ve gotten some really good experience the last couple of years and I’m starting to feel a part of the team now.
“It was a slow start to my career, but I’m starting to get the hang of it.”
Day 6 - Paul Puopolo
Sun 24 Jun 2012
The 24 year old Puopolo is the sixth payer to be announced to a new deal by Hawthorn this week, inking a a two-year contract extension with the club.
Puopolo was a mature-age recruit out of SANFL club Norwood and selected by the Hawks with the 66th pick of the 2010 Draft.
Day 7 - Luke Hodge
Team captain Luke Hodge becomes the seventh and final signing to be announced by the Hawks in their “7-in-7″ campaign.
Hodge, 28, has only been fit to play in two matches so far this season but he remains a key player for the Hawks in the short term and has extended his current deal through to the end of the 2013 season.
“I’ve just turned 28, I think I’ve still got a good four to five years left in me I think,” Hodge said. “I’ve been relatively lucky with the injuries I’ve had, they’ve all been fairly minor.”
The former 1st overall pick from the 2001 Draft announced the new deal on Twitter saying “Great to be part of @hawthornfc‘s #7in7campaign, extending my contract til end of 2013. Future looks good at the Hawks.#AlwaysHawthorn”
Photo appears under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Source: Flickr.com, User: The Malones
Tags: Hawthorn, Isaac Smith, Re-signings
Filled under: Hawthorn, Latest News
