HAWTHORN youngster Tim O’Brien has signed a contract extension with the Club.

The Club moved swiftly to secure his signature such has been the attitude and professionalism he’s shown to developing his game.

At just 19 years of age, O’Brien is just six months into his AFL career and admits he was shocked when his manager informed him the Hawks wanted to extend his contract.

The level-headed South Australian knows it’s not every day a draftee is offered a new contract so early in his first year, so he couldn’t put pen to paper quick enough.

“It’s great, when I heard the news that Hawthorn wanted me to sign, I couldn’t sign quick enough,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“I was a little bit shocked because you don’t hear of too many guys getting offered a contract extension in their first year.

“So when you add that together with the fact that I’m enjoying my time here and have settled in well, I couldn’t sign quick enough.

“I’ve settled in really well, the boys have made it really easy and I’m loving it. They’ve made me feel welcome since day one, I’m enjoying the journey.”

Taken as a lightly built 18 year old with the Club’s first pick (number 28) in the 2012 National Draft, O’Brien says the development program in place at Hawthorn has made his transition to life as an AFL footballer easy.

He has developed relationships with Box Hill Coach Damian Carroll, Development Coach Cameron Bruce and the Club’s fitness guru Andrew Russell – three men who have so far had a big impact on his game.

He says the trio have helped him to set goals and implement the right strategies and programs to achieve them.

“I’ve got a good relationship going with Damian Carroll who goes through with me how I’m playing and gives a lot of feedback,” O’Brien said.

“Cameron Bruce has also been really good, taking me aside after training and going through a few things that I’ve been working on.
“He’s been one that has really helped me along with Andrew Russell.

“I’m slowly getting there, but Jack (Andrew Russell) has been great, he’s working on a few things that I need to work on to improve my game. He seems to know everything.

“We sat down early in the year and went through goals and how I’m going to achieve them.

“I need to keep working in the gym and putting the kilos on as well as my development on the oval as well.”

On the field though, it has been Jarryd Roughead who has taken the youngster under his wing.

O’Brien says the support and advice he has got from the Hawthorn forward coupled with the quality of the Club’s development program have helped him understand what it takes be play football at the elite level.

“Jarryd Roughead has helped me a fair bit so far on the track, he often takes me to the side and gives me some hints, tricks of the trade to improve my game.

“He’s been really helpful so far, he’s been working pretty closely with me.

“The development program we’ve got here is great, it has helped me develop my game and understand what it takes to be an AFL footballer.”

Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright says the Club is excited by that qualities and progress the youngster has shown in his short career and hopes O’Brien can become a key player for the Hawks at both ends of the ground in the future.

“We've been really pleased with Tim's progress over his 1st pre-season, he's a young key position player who we belief has the capabilities to play at both ends of the ground,” Wright told hawthornfc.com.au

“Tim will be given time to develop his body and football knowledge over the next couple of years and we felt it was important to show our commitment to that development.

“We're excited that Tim has committed himself to the Hawthorn Football Club.”

O’Brien becomes the fourth Hawthorn player to ink a new deal with the Club in recent weeks, behind Captain Luke Hodge, Luke Breust, Ben Stratton and David Hale.