Starved of opportunity at Hawthorn, midfielder Mitch Hallahan has joined Gold Coast on the final day of AFL trade period.

The Suns handed over draft picks No.47 and No.49 in exchange for the 22-year-old who won the VFL’s best and fairest award in 2013.

Hallahan was drafted in 2010, but only made his AFL debut this season due to the back-to-back premiers’ on-ball depth.

The 22-year-old played six games, but wasn’t sighted in the AFL after round 11.

Hallahan had a year to run on his contract with the Hawks and initially wanted to stay at Waverley Park.

But the Suns have been able to change his mind in the past week.

“Mitch has made a solid contribution in his four years at Hawthorn and we understand that he leaves to pursue an opportunity to play regular senior football for the Suns,” Hawks list manager Graham Wright said.

“He is much admired and respected by our playing and coaching group, and we wish him well.”

Suns counterpart Scott Clayton was thrilled to sign the “strongly-built, hard, inside midfielder”.

The Hawks recruited former No.2 draft pick Jono O’Rourke last week, meaning the battle for places in their engine room next year will be just as intense.