Andrew Gaff re-signs with Eagles in AFL

Star West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff has re-signed for a further two years, tying him to the AFL club until the end of 2018.

Gaff would have been hot property on the open market after winning an All-Australian berth last season, as well as the Eagles’ best and fairest award.

But the Victorian says he always wanted to stay at the tight-knit Eagles, with the club’s premiership potential proving to be a big incentive.

“It’s an exciting time for the club,” Gaff said.

“There are a lot of guys around my age, as well as some senior players who are playing some great football, so were in pretty good shape.

“The club has really looked after me since I arrived as an 18-year-old, and I have really enjoyed it here.”

Gaff has played 125 games since being snared with pick No.4 in the 2010 national draft.

The 24-year-old holds the club record for consecutive games at West Coast with 113.

The streak would have been even longer had he not been knocked unconscious at the hands of Port’s Tom Jonas earlier this season.

Jonas was suspended for six weeks over the incident, with Gaff sitting out the following week.

Gaff’s output was noticeably lower for a few weeks following his return and the 24-year-old said it took him some time to get back into the groove.

“I just felt perhaps a little bit more rushed than I did at times,” Gaff said.

“I think when you come back from something like that, you feel like you’re under a bit more pressure whenever you have the ball and you’re pretty quick to bomb it away or handball it to someone else.

“It’s just that composure that probably went away for a couple of weeks.

“It was something that was frustrating for a couple of weeks, but I feel like I’ve got over that and I’m starting to play some decent football.”

West Coast will start as hot favourites when they host Melbourne at Domain Stadium on Saturday.

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