Muscular midfielder Jesse Lonergan has become the latest Gold Coast youngster to commit his future to the AFL club.

The Tasmanian product, who debuted for the Suns against Fremantle in round six, has signed a contract extension which will keep him at the club until the end of 2015.

“I’m rapt to have re-signed with the club,” Lonergan said.

“I’ve enjoyed the move to the Gold Coast and I’m loving my time up here.”

Nineteen-year-old defender Henry Schade, who is yet to feature for the Suns at AFL level, has also signed a new deal.

Lonergan, 18, and Schade are the latest of several of the Suns’ up-and-coming roster to sign a new deal as the club does its best to stop rival clubs from raiding their young talents.

Jack Martin, Zac Smith, Trent McKenzie, Seb Tape, Rory Thompson, Jackson Allen, Clay Cameron and Charlie Dixon have all re-committed in 2013.

It means retaining Victorian-bred Dion Prestia becomes the next goal for the Suns.

Prestia is off contract at the end of the season and is reportedly attracting the interest of St Kilda and Melbourne.

The 20-year-old midfielder has played 38 of the Suns’ 52 matches and Suns’ list manager Scott Clayton said keeping the most promising players at the club is his primary aim.

“What is really pleasing is that our young players are really keen to recommit to the football club,” Clayton said.

“That is a huge vote of confidence that we are heading in the right direction and that they believe that we are creating something pretty special here on the Gold Coast.”