Number one draft pick Lachie Whitfield has become the 25th player to sign a new contract with the fledgling Greater Western Sydney AFL club.
Whitfield, 19, who has played 18 games in his debut season in 2013, has signed to the end of 2016.
The classy midfielder has averaged 17 possessions a game and was rewarded with a AFL Rising Star nomination for his performance against Carlton in round 10.
Whitfield joins previous number one draft picks Jonathon Patton and Tom Scully, to make long-term commitments to the Giants.
“I’m loving Sydney and loving what the club is providing for me,” said Whitfield.
“(Assistant coach) Leon Cameron has done a lot for me this season and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my game under him,” he said.
Chief executive David Matthews said the signing was another good sign for the club as it approached the end of its second season in the AFL.
“For Lachie to have made this decision while still in his first year at the club is a great endorsement of the Giants and a great endorsement of expansion into Western Sydney and Canberra,” Matthews said.
Others to have re-signed with the club previously include Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar, Stephen Coniglio, Devon Smith, Dom Tyson, Nick Haynes, Adam Kennedy, Toby Greene, Adam Tomlinson, Jonathan Giles, Will Hoskin-Ellitot and Curtly Hampton.
