HAWTHORN has locked away star defender James Sicily until the end of 2022. 

Sicily, 24, was due to come out of contract at the end of 2020 but he has inked a new two-year extension in the wake of a season in which he was named in the 40-man Virgin Australia AFL All Australian squad for the first time.

He has become one of the AFL's most best rebounding defenders, ranking fourth in the league for intercept possessions and ninth for rebound 50s in 2019.

Sicily's strong season also delivered his highest finish in a club best and fairest count, when he finished fourth in the Peter Crimmins Medal.

His new deal follows contracts for fellow Hawks Mitch Lewis and Jarman Impey, who have signed until the end of 2022 and 2023, respectively. 

Sicily will enter his seventh season in 2020, having played 82 games since being drafted at No.56 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.