GREATER Western Sydney has locked away its top three 2016 draftees until the end of the 2020 season.
Teenagers Tim Taranto, Will Setterfield and Harry Perryman have wasted no time recommitting to the Giants, extending their contracts by two years apiece just 11 rounds into their first season in the competition.
GWS selected Taranto with pick two at last year's NAB AFL Draft, while Setterfield (pick five) and Perryman (pick 14) were also first-round selections after coming to the club via their academy.
Coach Leon Cameron was understandably rapt to have the trio on board.
"It's outstanding for these three guys to commit midway through the first year of their contract, and goes a long way to saying that the club is heading in the right direction," he said on Wednesday.
"As we know in the AFL, player movement has grown through free agency, trading is accepted a lot more, and young kids are probably a bit more impatient.
"So to have these three say, 'No, I want to be here at this footy club', is quite extraordinary."
Taranto has been impressive playing across half-forward and through the midfield, and has averaged 16.5 possessions and 4.3 tackles in 10 games so far in his debut season, while Perryman has played the past three matches and looks composed in defence.
Setterfield is yet to play a senior game after suffering a serious ankle injury in the NEAFL in April, but he was extremely close to a debut, and should be back on the field in the next month.
AFL.com.au's Callum Twomey reported last week that the Giants were close to extending Taranto's and Setterfield's contracts.
While the trio of young guns has pledged their futures to the Giants, star midfielder Josh Kelly remains uncontracted beyond this season, but the club remains confident of keeping him and will be patient with talks as the season goes on.
Forward Devon Smith, plus GWS academy products Jacob Hopper, Matthew Kennedy and Harry Himmelberg are also yet to re-sign with the ladder leaders, with their deals set to expire at the end of 2017.
