Key trio re-sign

Tom Hawkins has signed a contract extension for Geelong. (Ivan Kemp) 300473_45

Veteran Geelong trio Tom Hawkins, Isaac Smith and Zach Tuohy have all signed one-year contract extensions with the AFL premiers.

And fellow flag-winners Tom Atkins and Zach Guthrie have inked fresh two-year deals with the Cats.

Geelong announced the re-signing of Hawkins, 34, Smith, 33, Tuohy, 32, Atkins, 27, and Guthrie, 24, on Monday.

“We are thrilled that all five of these players have re-committed,” Geelong’s football manager Simon Lloyd said in a statement.

“Players like Tom Atkins and Zach Guthrie are key pillars of our medium to long-term future.

“Zach (Tuohy) and Isaac, among a long list of players at our club, are key reasons why we have been able to achieve what we have this year.

“Both are experienced big-game players … and they drive standards across the club.

“Hawk has achieved so much in his career over such a long period of time and it’s a tribute to his hard work and dedication that he continues to get better ea ch and every year he plays the game.”

Hawkins, a 327-gamer who was this year’s All Australian captain, will play on for a 17th AFL season while Irishman Tuohy will play his 13th.

Smith, who has played 48 games for the Cats since moving from Hawthorn for a 258-game career total, is a four-time premiership player and won the Norm Smith Medal for best-afield in Geelong’s 81-point thrashing of Sydney in this year’s grand final.