Triple-premiership Hawthorn big man Jarryd Roughead has signed a two-year contract extension that will tie him to the Hawks until 2018.
The superstar wasn't due to come out of contract until the end of 2016 by which time he would have been an unrestricted free agent.
But his latest deal ensures he will stay at Waverley Park for the next four seasons at least and given Roughead will be 31 by the time his contract expires, he looks set to finish his career as a one-club player.
"It's safe to say that at 31, when this deal does expire, it might be hard for free agency," Roughead told Hawthorn's club website.
"To be able to lock it away now and say that I'm here until the end of 2018 when I'm 31 is a very good thing for myself and hopefully for the footy club as well.
"It was a good chance for me to get it out of the way now and not have to worry when I turn 28 that I'm a free agent and all the publicity that comes with it."
While the chance for more success with the competition pacesetters played a big part in Roughead's decision, he said that staying put with lifelong friends he has made at Hawthorn was equally important.
"There are about six of us left from when I first started so to see the bonds and mateship form over the 10 years has been one thing that you look forward to every day when you come here," he said.
"(It's great) to be able to muck around with blokes and seeing the smiles on the faces as you walk in rather than it just be a burden I suppose. It's more of a lifestyle than a job.
"You come here every day and enjoy the fact you're around mates and winning flags, which also helps."
Roughead has been in career-best form in the last two years, which have coincided with Hawthorn's back-to-back premierships, having earned All-Australian honours twice and also won a Coleman Medal.
But the 27-year-old is determined to continue improving.
"It's just that you want to keep getting better," he said.
"You're not satisfied yet because you've still got four years to go and you'd like to think you're in the prime of your career now."
Roughead, who was taken at pick No.2 in the 2004 Draft, has played 207 games and kicked 441 goals for the Hawks.
