Hawthorn young gun Mackenzie Eardley has spoken about her decision to re-sign with the Hawks on a long-term deal, remaining in the brown and gold until at least the end of 2027.

Eardley declared her decision to stay with the Hawks was a simple one, as it feels like home.

“I think for me it was a pretty easy decision, the club’s been amazing with me over the past few years just working with me as an individual to grow myself as a person as well as a player,” Eardley said.

“And the players and staff around me, it’s just where I belong, and they’ve made my family feel so welcome and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.”

Eardley is into her third season with the Hawks after joining in the club’s inaugural season in 2022.

“I’ve just loved every minute I’ve spent at the club,” she said.

"I’ve formed some bonds with certain players that I just think I won’t be able to find anywhere else and I just feel like I belong here and like I said I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else and I just can’t wait to see where the club goes from here.”

Mindset is something Eardley said has been the biggest growth area for her.

“Probably my biggest learning is just how I am as a person and what it takes to be an elite athlete and just the things I’ve had to develop around mindset and just who I am as a person to get the best out of myself,” Eardley said.

Three games into the 2024 season, with Eardley playing two of those, she said she just wants to play her part for the team this year.

“I just want to get the best out of my football, obviously a very cliché answer but I think this year we can really do some big things in the competition, and I just want to play my role in that and do what I can for the team,” she said.

Eardley is the most recent addition to a long list of stars who’ve recommitted to Hawthorn on long-term contracts, which she said is a testament to the belief of the group and the excitement of what’s to come.

“We’ve got such a good core group of young players, and I think that core group can go so far and to know that already a few of us have committed like Jas (Fleming) and Bridie (Hipwell) and all of those players, I can’t wait to play alongside them for a few more years,” Eardley said.

“I think we can develop as a group all the way through and hopefully chase a premiership.”

Watch Eardley's full interview below.