Top Talent re-signed by AFL clubs

The Adelaide Crows and St Kilda have today announced re-signings of key players in a bid to stop raids from rival clubs including the Gold Coast and Western Sydney.

With Gold Coast poised to take aim at its rivals, a contract extension for midfielder Patrick Dangerfield is seen as a positive step forward for the Crows.

The 20 year-old has played 38 games so far for Adelaide, having been linked with the new Gold Coast team which joins the AFL from next year.

“The footy club has been great to me since I was drafted and I think we are going to be a force in the AFL for the next few years and challenge for finals,” Dangerfield told the Crows official website.

Recruited from the VFL side Geelong Falcons as its first selection (and 10th overall) in the 2007 National Draft, Dangerfield is seen by many as the next in line to replace the retiring Simon Goodwin in the Crows’ midfield.

Phil Harper, the Crows football operations manager added, “the club is extremely pleased to re-sign Patrick as we see him as an integral part of our team going forward.”

“Patrick was keen to recommit to the Club as he sees a bright future with the group of talented young players at the Crows at the moment, so given those parameters it was very easy to reach an agreement.”

Meanwhile, the St Kilda Football Club also announced several key experienced and promising youngsters had finalised contract extensions of between one and three years.

Amongst those having re-signed today were midfielder Lenny Hayes and versatile forward Justin Koschitzke, along with youngsters Ben McEvoy (ruckman), Rhys Stanley (forward), Jack Steven (midfielder) and Alistair Smith.

“This outcome gives the Club great confidence that it’s playing group want to be part of the Saints future. With a record 40,000 members and all key commercial measures at historical highs, this is another vote of confidence in the Club’s direction,” said St Kilda CEO Michael Nettlefold.

“Matthew Drain (development manager) has done an outstanding job managing our list through an incredibly challenging period, given the contract pressures coming to bear on all AFL Clubs with the entry of the two new interstate teams in the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.”

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