North Melbourne key defender Robbie Tarrant has marked his most consistent AFL season by signing a new deal to stay with the Kangaroos.

Tarrant, 26, was due to come out of contract at the end of the season, with a number of clubs reportedly interested under free agency rules.

But on the eve of North Melbourne’s match with St Kilda in Hobart on Saturday, Tarrant said he was keen to pay back the club that has stood by him during an injury-plagued start to his career.

“The club’s done so much for me in the past and I obviously have a lot of mates here so I was pumped to just get the contract done,” he told North Melbourne’s website.

“I’m looking forward to what’s ahead and hopefully we can keep this winning streak going and head into a finals series with a lot of confidence.”

Tarrant has been shifted to defence by North Melbourne coach Brad Scott with great success in 2015.

Fremantle, Hawthorn, Brisbane and St Kilda were previously linked with the unrestricted free agent, who has signed a new four-year deal to take him to the end of 2019.