HAWTHORN has re-signed young defender Kaiden Brand until the end of 2018.

Brand, who was the Hawks’ fourth round selection in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft at pick 66, has signed a two-year extension.

Brand made his debut in Round 7 this year and went on to play 11 games in the brown and gold.

“After struggling with a shoulder injury last season, Kaiden had a strong patch of AFL games this year,” Hawthorn’s recruiting and list manager Graham Wright said.

“We’ve been really happy with his progress and we think he could be a really important player for us long-term”.

A product of country South Australia, Brand played as a forward in his junior years. He is now honing his skills to play a key defensive role at the Hawks.

Having had a taste of AFL football in 2016, the challenge for the 198cm backman is to hold a place in the Hawthorn line up going forward – something he looks capable of doing if given a good run with injury.

Assistant Coach Adem Yze said the club was pleased with Brand’s first year of senior football.

“When he did play in the senior side he helped our defence by giving James Frawley a hand on some of the big key forward,” Yze said.

“As a young key defender he handled himself really well on some tough opponents and gained the trust of his team mates within our backline.”

The Hawks have also upgraded Kade Stewart to the club’s senior list for season 2017.

Stewart joined the Hawks with pick 36 in last year’s rookie draft and was upgraded to the senior list ahead of Round 11 this year. He returned to the rookie list when fellow 2015 draftee Ryan Burton came back onto the primary list.

The skilful left-footer played three games in 2016, impressing with not only his ability to hit the scoreboard but also apply pressure to the opposition.

He laid nine tackles in his debut game against Melbourne, the most ever by a Hawthorn debutant.

Playing most of his season at Box Hill, Stewart was regularly among the goal kickers and finished with 16 goals and 77 tackles from 14 games.