CYRIL Rioli has signed a three-year contract extension, but that’s just a stepping stone in what he hopes to achieve at Hawthorn.

Contracted until the end of next season, Rioli's new contract will bring his stay at Hawthorn to 10 seasons.

The Hawks star says this new deal, and the good footy he hopes to be playing for its duration is just another feather in the cap he hopes to wear at the end of his career.

Rioli wants to play out his career in the brown and gold. He wants to be a one-club player.

“It was a no brainer for me to extend my contract,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“If I could stick around here for the rest of my career I’ll be a very happy man.

“This contract gets me to 10 years at this club so hopefully I can play some good footy and get another extension and be around here until I finish.

“That’s my goal, to stick around at the Hawthorn Football Club for as long as I can.”

He says signing a contract extension was a “no brainer”, a choice made easy given the great friendships and relationships he’s built in his time at the Club.

“Hawthorn picked me up in the 2007 draft and since I’ve got here, from day one they’ve looked after me very well,” he said.

“It’s the family club, I love the place, I love the players and love the people around the Club so it was a no brainer for me to extend my contract.

“All the boys get along really well, we’ve got a good culture.

“We’ve got a lot of younger players coming through, and it’s a credit to the older guys who have led the way and led by example. All the boys are really happy here.”

At 23, turning 24 next week, Rioli is one of Hawthorn’s most exciting young players, already with a highlight reel only many could dream of.

He has, at times left his teammates, coaches and fans in awe of his ability – be it thrilling chase down tackles, execution of skill to set up his teammates or freakish goals.

It has already been a rich five-year stay at the Club that drafted him in 2007 with the 12^th overall pick in the national draft.

In that time, Rioli has won a premiership and built for himself a reputation as one of the most universally loved players in the AFL, whether they’re Hawthorn supporters or just fans of the game.

There have been significant career highlights, probably none more significant than being part of that 2008 Grand Final team.

For Rioli though, it’s playing 100 games for Hawthorn the career milestone he hold most dear.

“Probably now looking back, reaching 100 games is my biggest highlight,” he said.

“It feels like yesterday I was playing my first game but to reach 100, I’m pretty proud of that.”

There has been one significant lowlight in his 106 game career, however, something the livewire forward says will continue to drive him for the rest of his time at the elite level.

“Last year’s Grand Final is something that drives me and probably will drive me for the rest of my career,” Rioli said.

“All the pre-season I was thinking about it and I just wanted to get back into it.”