James Sicily has inked a new contract extension with Hawthorn, locking him away as a Hawk for life.

The star defender has put pen to paper on a five-year deal, tying him to the club until at least the end of 2027.

Sicily has played 102 games in the brown and gold since joining Hawthorn with Pick 56 in the 2013 National Draft.

After missing the second half of the 2020 season and all of 2021 due to a knee injury, Sicily has made a brilliant return to football this year.

Remarkably, the 27-year-old has elevated his game to a new level, averaging a career-high 23.3 disposals and almost three intercept marks per game in nine outings this season.

Having cemented his status among the AFL’s elite intercept and rebound defenders, Sicily took on a new role last month when he was elevated to stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Ben McEvoy.

Hawthorn National List & Recruiting Manager Mark McKenzie was thrilled with the signing.

“We couldn’t be happier to make James a Hawk for life with this contract extension,” McKenzie said.

“This deal demonstrates James’ strong commitment to the club, as he continues to develop his leadership capabilities.

“After starting his career up forward, James has since become one of our most reliable defenders, with elite rebounding capacity.

“We hope Hawthorn members are excited as we are to keep James in the brown and gold for some time yet.”