Brendan Whitecross Biography

Brendan Whitecross joins North Melbourne as a VFL player and development coach.

"Brendan will play an instrumental role in helping to develop our younger players," Kangaroos football manager Cameron Joyce said.

"He knows what it takes to be successful and work through adversity and will set a great example for our younger players coming through."

After being delisted by Hawthorn, Brendan Whitecross is keen to play on in 2019.

"There's a couple of clubs that I think could be a good fit but over the next couple of days I'll just sit tight and let my manager do his thing and see what eventuates," Whitecross told Macquarie Sports Radio.

"My priority, at this point in time, is to still play AFL footy because I still think I've got a lot to offer not only on the field but off the field with the leadership and cultural aspect of my game so who knows, let's wait to see what happens."

Brendan Whitecross is cut by the Hawks.

"Brendan has spent a long time at our footy club, having joined the Hawks in the 2007 draft. He is a life member and an amazing clubman," Hawks football boss Graham Wright said.

"Unfortunately for Brendan, his career has been interrupted with injuries, however he has always shown great resilience and determination in the face of adversity."

After reviving his career at Hawthorn at the end of 2016, Brendan Whitecross has been rewarded with a contract extension until the end of 2018.

Whitecross was set to become a free agent for the third consecutive year in 2017 after triggering a one-year contract extension late last season prior to his new deal.

Brendan Whitecross becomes the victim of an aggravated burglary that saw four men allegedly steal his fiance's car, a white Porsche Macan, and lead police on a chase through south-east Melbourne.

"It was pretty scary," Whitecross told reporters.

"By the time the dogs started barking, the car was off so I didn't get a real good look at them … the adrenaline took over and I was straight down the stairs.

"I went into fight mode so I chased him downstairs. My thought was if I could handle Hodgey when he's a bit fired up I thought I could handle anybody."

Brendan Whitecross activates a games-based trigger by playing against Geelong in the Hawks' qualifying final that will see him play on at Waverley in 2017.

Even during his most frustrating moments playing in the VFL this season, Brendan Whitecross says he never doubted he would pull on a Hawthorn jumper again.

"It's been a hard road to try and earn my spot, but I got back there and now it's just a matter of holding my position," Whitecross said.

"Although it was tough, playing consistent footy for a number of weeks at VFL level has really helped my transition back into the game on the weekend.

"(I have) a big difference in the confidence in my body this year, opposed to last year."

Forgotten Hawthorn utility Brendan Whitecross will play his first AFL game in 432 days after receiving the call-up for Thursday night's prime-time blockbuster against the Sydney Swans.

In a true tale of persistence, Whitecross has forced his way back for his first senior appearance since round six last season, when the Hawks suffered a shock defeat to Greater Western Sydney.

Hawthorn insists forgotten utility Brendan Whitecross remains in contention to play senior football this season, despite being repeatedly overlooked as the Hawks regenerate with youth.

"He's (Whitecross) been a consistent performer at Box Hill and he's just got to wait until an opportunity comes up," Hawthorn general manager of football operations Chris Fagan said.

"It's not about a youth policy necessarily, but more about who he replaces in the side."

Whitecross signs a new one-year deal with Hawthorn in a bid to finally taste premiership success.

The midfielder is currently recovering from post-season shoulder surgery but the club said his preparation for season 2016 wouldn't be delayed too much.

"Brendan will be a bit slower getting back into full contact work with footy before Christmas, but he is in a pretty good position," Hawthorn football boss Chris Fagan said.

"It’s a good result because he can still run and do the required conditioning stuff when he returns."

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.

The popular utility is understood to have turned down overtures from the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney to sign a one-year deal with the Hawks.

Brendan Whitecross meets with Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron as the Giants consider making a play for the unrestricted free agent.

Brendan Whitecross says he is excited to make his return to the Hawks' side this week.

"It's been a long 18 months but I'm really excited to get back out there with the team," Whitecross said.

"I wasn't really expecting it at all because I've only played a couple of games at VFL level but at the same time I'm ready for it so bring on Sunday."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says he shares in Whitecross' excitement.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said he couldn't be more excited for Whitecross.

"It's a great story of resilience," Clarkson said.

"He's overcome some real hardship and we're hopeful this is just the first step back for him for some continuity in his footy for the next few years.

"We're just happy he's in the 22 and really excited there's a reward for some really hard work behind the scenes for the last 18 months."

Brendan Whitecross has been named to make his AFL return against the Western Bulldogs in Launceston on Sunday.

Whitecross hasn't played since suffering his second anterior cruciate ligament tear in the 2013 preliminary final against Geelong.

Brendan Whitecross says he is positive about what lies ahead after making his comeback from a second knee reconstruction via the Box Hill Hawks.

"[It's] never good to do a knee, let alone at the business end of the season," Whitecross said.

"[There] is no point feeling sorry for myself. It's about how I can deal with it moving forward and get back as quickly as I can."

Hawthorn will not rush utility Brendan Whitecross in his anticipated return to the AFL after he successfully completed his first match since 2013 with VFL team Box Hill on Saturday.

Football manager Chris Fagan said the 25-year-old was understandably scratchy in his return to football, and the club would give him time to push for senior selection again.

"He didn't set the world on fire, but there was no expectation that he would," Fagan said.

"It was more about getting out there and getting that game under his belt.

"It was successful, in that he got to run around for four quarters and feel what it was like to play football again."

Brendan Whitecross is targeting a return to action by the start of the season as he builds his way back from the second reconstruction of his right knee.

"It's been a slow one. But when it's your second reco you want to get it right and we took the graft from a different spot (left patella tendon) that hopefully does a better job this time around," Hawks general manager of football operations Chris Fagan said.

"It's a bit of a tougher area and sometimes that can get a bit irritated, which is what happened before Christmas. That's often what happens, and we knew that."

Hawthorn has decided to rule out Brendan Whitecross for the rest of this season to ensure he is 100 per cent ready when the 2015 pre-season starts.

Whitecross, 24, had to undergo his second reconstruction after injuring the knee in last year's preliminary final against Geelong at the MCG.

His recovery stalled slightly recently and a mutual decision was made to focus on coming back in 2015.

"We thought 'what is the point in trying to push him to the edge when he can get another full pre-season in and be available for a full pre-season next year, particularly when it is on his second reconstruction?'" Hawthorn football manager Chris Fagan said.

Brendan Whitecross has undergone his second knee reconstruction, this time using the patella tendon from his other knee.

Brendan Whitecross will miss playing in a Grand Final with Hawthorn for a second successive year after appearing to again rupture his right anterior cruciate ligament.

"We'll get that confirmed probably tomorrow or Sunday. Whatever it is, it's a serious enough injury for him to miss next week, so that's heartbreaking for 'Whitey' and his teammates and our club," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said after the Hawks' gutsy win over Geelong in their preliminary final.

Hawk midfielder Brendan Whitecross is aiming to make his return in the VFL after club's round 11 bye.

"I probably could play before the bye, but the doctors and physios have looked at it and said, 'What's the point in playing one game and then having a week off and then playing again?'" Whitecross said.

"So we'll use the week before and during the bye just to get some extra work in, and look to hit the ground running after that."

Hawthorn confirms that Brendan Whitecross will have a full knee reconstruction after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament only minutes into the Hawks' qualifying match against Collingwood.

Hawthorn players return to Melbourne from their trip to Papua New Guinea where they trekked throught the gruelling Kokoda trail.

The group of players include Simon Taylor as well as new recruits Brendan Whitecross, Cyril Rioli and Stuart Dew.

"It was emotionally and physically the hardest thing I've ever done," Taylor said.

"You were wet by nine o'clock in the morning with sweat, and you would stay that way for the rest of the day. And then you'd bathe in a creek to try and get the sweat off your clothes, which you put back on the next day."