Recently re-signed Hawk James Sicily says his decision to sign on with the brown and gold was a no-brainer. 

Hawthorn announced on Tuesday morning that Sicily had put pen to paper on a new five-year deal, tying him to the club until at least the end of 2027.

Speaking to the media this afternoon, Sicily said he was thrilled to have inked the new deal.

“I found the period of being uncontracted a little bit uncomfortable and unsettling, but now that it's put behind me it’s a distraction no longer there,” Sicily said.

“Now I can invest in my teammates and my coaches and get back to focussing on just winning and investing in myself.”

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.

Sicily, who is now in his eighth season at the club, said there was never a doubt in his mind to sign on with Hawthorn. 

“There was no weighing up if I’d be here or not, I was always going to be here, but there’s still elements of doubt and I was still having to prove myself again,” he said.

“I’ve got a strong sense of belonging here and I can’t really see myself anywhere else.”

The stand-in skipper said he was excited about the club’s direction under first-year coach Sam Mitchell. 

“I feel as though this is my club as much as Sam would feel like it’s his club and as the members feel like it's their club, there was no thoughts on leaving,” he said.

“We’re a young developing team and I’m fully invested, I’m all in. I like the direction the club's going in, Sam’s vision and the way he wants to play the game.”

He also shared an insight into how the announcement was received by his teammates.

“Sam broke the news to the boys – there were plenty of high fives and pats on the back,” Sicily said.

“While it felt a bit uncomfortable for me to be put out there and applauded – because I’m very much a team-oriented person – to have a good reception to the news was very comforting.”

Hear more from Sicily in his press conference today.