Damien Hardwick says he's "pumped" veteran ruckman Jarrod Witts signed a two-year contract extension with the club rather than explore his options elsewhere.

Witts, who turns 34 next month, has signed on at the SUNS until the end of 2028, despite playing second-fiddle to Ned Moyle for the second half of the season.

Hardwick described the former captain as integral to the club's "fabric" and said his contribution off the field would be just as big as on it in the coming years.

"He was sought after from other football clubs, but his heart is certainly at this football club, and we're pumped he's decided to stay on," Hardwick said.

"He's been an incredible influence over a number of people, including his protégé, Ned Moyle

"The influence he has on our football club and our organisation as a whole is incredibly important and we couldn't be happier to have him stay for two more years."

Witts headed north to the Suns at the end of 2016 following 40 games in four seasons at Collingwood and turned himself into one of the competition's most consistent ruckmen, and at times, one of the best.

He's played 177 for his second club, including six seasons as a co-captain from 2019-2024 alongside David Swallow then Touk Miller.

"He feels this football club is part of his legacy, and he wants to continue this journey to see it out to where he thinks this club could go," Hardwick said.

"He's very selfless. It's one of the reasons he was the captain of this footy club for a long time.

"Jarrod's not about himself. He just wants to see this club succeed and will give everything to do that.

"That's why he's been nothing but incredibly supportive of Ned. He helps him through training, goes through his vision to educate. That's the mark of a man as far as I'm concerned … he's such an important piece of the fabric of this club really."