AS IT prepares for Saturday's Grand Final, Hawthorn has kept an eye on the future, signing teenage Irish star Ciaran Kilkenny for 2013.

Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association broke the news via Twitter on Friday night that Kilkenny, who plays Gaelic football for Dublin, had elected to join the Hawks.

Hawthorn confirmed the signing on Saturday morning, after Carlton had also tried to secure the 19-year-old's services.

Kilkenny recently flew to Melbourne to visit Hawthorn officials at Waverley, and will now become the first Irishman to play at the club.

He had been on Carlton's radar for some time, having been initially identified 18 months ago by Gerard Sholly, who handles the Blues' Irish recruiting.

The Blues had stayed in close contact with the young gun and his family since that time, and had remained hopeful of gaining his signature, but have now been trumped by the Hawks.

At 186cm tall and still growing, Kilkenny is seen as an ideal size for Australian football, and has excellent athletic capabilities.

During an international AFL Combine run by former Sydney Swans star Tadhg Kennelly in Dublin in February, he tested at or near the top in speed and agility, and registered a standing vertical jump of 74cm.

All Australian West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui holds the Australian AFL Combine standing jump record of 78cm.

Recent changes to rookie list rules make the recruitment of Irish players more appealing.

Clubs can now count one Irish player as an international rookie, meaning they don't take up a main rookie spot.

Two Irishmen, Emmett Bradley of Derry and Sean Hurley of Kildare, have been invited to attend the NAB AFL Combine at Etihad Stadium in October.

Early on Saturday morning, Australian time, Kilkenny tweeted: "Touched by all the support and messages, read through them all. Really means a lot and I'll be back to win Sam/Liam in the future."