BRENDAN Whitecross has turned his back on rival clubs' interest and will continue his career at Hawthorn in a bid to finally taste premiership success.
AFL.com.au understands the popular utility has turned down overtures from the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney and signed a one-year deal with the Hawks.
Whitecross met with Giants coach Leon Cameron – a former Hawks assistant - during the NAB AFL Trade Period, but after weighing up his future the 25-year-old has chosen to stay at Waverley for at least the 2016 season.
He is set to battle the likes of Will Langford, Daniel Howe, James Sicily and Jonathan O'Rourke for a spot in the best 22 as the Hawks chase history by winning four consecutive flags.
At least two clubs eyeing delisted Hawk
Whitecross provided a feel-good story of the season when he returned in round three after more than 18 months on the sidelines recovering from his second knee reconstruction.
His best performance came in the Anzac Day defeat to Port Adelaide when he collected 19 touches and took eight marks.
But after playing four games in a row he was dropped and couldn't force his way back into the senior side – despite strong VFL form – and missed out on a third-straight premiership.
The 183cm tough nut also endured the heartache of playing in a losing VFL Grand Final for Box Hill against Williamstown.
Whitecross was a regular AFL player before he ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament for the first time in the 2012 qualifying final win over Collingwood.
Disaster struck again the following season when he lunged to lay a tackle in the pulsating preliminary final victory against Geelong.
As the Hawks pushed for back-to-back premierships in 2014, he was stuck on the sidelines as his recovery took longer than expected.
The highly-respected clubman has played 88 games for Hawthorn since he was recruited from Zillmere in Queensland with pick 29 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft.
