FIRST-year midfielder Rhys Mathieson is set to be the next Brisbane Lion to recommit to the club, with the Victorian having agreed to a two-year contract extension.
Mathieson is yet to debut at senior level and wasn't due to fall out of contract until the end of next year, but AFL.com.au understands the extended deal will see him tied to the Lions until at least the end of 2019.
The 19-year-old's signature will follow that of recent re-signings Eric Hipwood and Sam Skinner, tall prospects who joined the club alongside Mathieson at last year's NAB AFL Draft.
Hipwood last week signed on for two more years (also through to the end of 2019) while Skinner added an extra year to his current deal (keeping him a Lion until the end of 2018).
Mathieson looked set for an early season debut having featured in the Lions' NAB Challenge side, but suffered a broken cheekbone after a bone-crunching bump from GWS forward Jeremy Cameron in the pre-season competition.
He required surgery and only recently returned to the NEAFL, where his form has been strong. He has been named as one of the Lions' emergencies for Saturday night's clash with Collingwood.
The Lions were rapt to select Mathieson with pick 39 at last year's draft, with the hard-at-it midfielder one of the best of his kind in last year's intake.
He averaged 25 disposals a game at TAC Cup level and 20 during the national under-18 championships, and excelled at the stoppages.