Hull has flirted with the idea of a switch to rugby league for the past two years and was also sounded out by other Australian rules clubs, including Wagga Tigers.

However, the Hawks junior has declared Gumly Oval will be home for at least the next two years.

“I probably will play league eventually but it seems right to go around for another couple while I can,” Hull said.

“It was probably just the people around the club more than the footy side of things… the players, the committee, the volunteers, and (president) Steve Absolum, he’s a great bloke to have at the place.

“And we’ll have under 17s at the club next year – they’ve got a talented group and they’ll be looking to make the transition up to seniors. It’s a big step and hopefully there’s a few of us around the senior club who can help them.”

Hull, who turns 24 next week, is a key re-signing in a team which has lost key forwards Marc Geppert and Billy Mearns and midfielders James Creasy and Stu Brierty.

“He’s a club junior who has come all the way through,” EWK coach Gavin McMahon said.

“He’s been a bit of a late bloomer and he’s found his feet so we’re excited he gets another two years to keep learning his craft.

“And he’s one of the first to understand that while we had a win last year, we’re far from a successful club – we’ve won one in 30 years and we didn’t have 17s last year.”

Hull acknowledged the importance of the breakthrough premiership – “We were pretty due for one I reckon, it would’ve been soul destroying if we hadn’t” – and the league’s dominant ruckman, who also found 31 goals last season, is driven to do even better.

“Hopefully I can learn to kick a bit straighter and kick 50 or 60,” he said.

“And I still haven’t been really fit, even last year I was pretty unfit, so I’ve already been doing a lot more running to see if that helps.”

Hull’s retention follows the re-signing of experienced midfielder Chris Gordon. The assistant coach committed to another season prior to the finals series.

The Hawks haven’t ruled out picking up a couple of players but after three straight reserve grade flags, the emphasis is on development from within.

“We’re still recruiting but not as heavily or as actively as in the past,” McMahon said.

“You look at the luxury we had going into the grand final with only one injury across the two grades and there’s plenty of blokes there that are keen for an opportunity and deserve an opportunity so you don’t always have to go out recruiting.”