Essendon’s run of player signings has continued with stand-in skipper Brendon Goddard the latest Bomber to agree to a new AFL deal.

Goddard will continue his 288-game career next season after agreeing to a one-year contract extension on Thursday.

The 31-year-old joins Michael Hurley, Ben Howlett, Brent Stanton and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti in signing a new deal in the past fortnight.

“As a club we’ve made great inroads this year, I’m excited about heading into my fifth season at Essendon, and I couldn’t see myself playing anywhere else,” Goddard said.

“Being reunited with our teammates in the coming months and the talent that has emerged this season fills me with great optimism about 2017.

“We still have plenty of hard work ahead of us but this playing group has incredible drive and ambition.”

Of the 12 Bombers currently serving doping bans, club captain Jobe Watson and Tayte Pears are the only players yet to announce their intentions for next season.

Dyson Heppell, Tom Bellchambers, Cale Hooker, Heath Hocking, Travis Colyer, David Myers, Hurley, Howlett and Stanton have all re-committed to the club.

Michael Hibberd has requested a trade and has been strongly linked with a move to Melbourne.