Gold Coast SUNS utility Aaron Hall has agreed to a three-year contract extension, inking a new deal that ties him to the Queensland club until the end of 2018.
 
The 24-year-old has put pen to paper on the back of a career best form during the closing months of the season, which saw him poll in six of the last seven games of the year to finish seventh in the Club Champion.
 
Hall endured a difficult start to the year, playing only five of the opening 12 games as he tried to play catch-up following a non-existent pre season due to major groin surgery at the end of last season.
 
Strong form after the bye begun to turn his season around, but a move into the midfield late in the year was the catalyst for his form revival, with the Tasmanian finding a home in the SUNS onball division during the second half of 2015.
 
“I’m really excited to commit to the club for what I’m sure will be a very exciting and successful period over the next three years,” Hall told goldcoastfc.com.au on Friday morning after inking his new deal.
 
“I will be forever grateful to the SUNS for giving me a chance in the AFL as a 21-year-old, and have always considered it my club. It’s where I always wanted to play.”
 
At Adelaide Oval in round 17, Rodney Eade moved Hall into the midfield after captain Gary Ablett went down with a season-ending knee injury in the opening quarter. From there, Hall grasped his opportunity, refusing to relinquish his newfound position in Gold Coast’s setup.
 
Across the final seven rounds of the season, the Apple Isle product equalled or bettered his career-best possession haul on six occasions, averaging 27.3 possessions, 6.1 inside 50s and  4.4 clearances per game during that period.
 
Hall praised Eade for providing him with the chance to add more strings to his bow after spending the entirety of his time at the SUNS as a forward, prior to the well-documented move.
 
With a handful of established midfield stars set to return next season, the Tasmanian is confident he can complement them in the engine room in 2016.
 
“I loved the opportunity ‘Rocket’ gave me to play through the midfield in the latter part of the 2015 season, and I am really encouraged by his commitment to utilising me as part of a full-strength midfield rotation next year,” Hall said.
 
“I’ve taken a lot of confidence out of the 2015 season and after what will be my full season without significant disruption due to injury I firmly believe I can play a consistent and important role in a successful Suns side next year and beyond.”
 
In 54 games prior to the Crows game in round 17, Hall had collected 20 disposals or more on just five occasions. The midfield switch proving so profound, with Hall producing seven more 20-plus performances – including two hauls in the 30s – that it now appears to be a masterstroke.
 
It remains to be seen where exactly Hall fits in once a full complement of midfielders return to the SUNS midfield. But once the likes of Ablett, David Swallow, Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia return, Hall now adds another layer to an onball department that has grown its depth during an injury plagued season.
 
The signature from Hall now means 11 Gold Coast players have recommitted their futures to the club, with the big-bodied utility joining Ablett, Andrew Boston, Clay Cameron, Jesse Lonergan, Trent McKenzie, Michael Rischitelli, Henry Schade, Matt Shaw, Rory Thompson and Seb Tape in signing new deals to remain at Metricon Stadium this season.