POWER forward Jonathon Patton is the latest Giant to pledge his allegiance to the club after announcing he'd signed a new three-year contact on Tuesday.
Patton was due to come out of contract at the end of this season but is now tied to Greater Western Sydney until at least the end of 2020.
The 23-year-old has a career-best season in 2016 when he kicked 38 goals from 23 games and took 131 marks, 36 of them contested, the 11th most in the competition.
Like most of his teammates, Patton's contract status has come under plenty of scrutiny in the last 12 months, but he's joined defenders Adam Tomlinson and Zac Williams, who have both committed to GWS in the past fortnight.
Patton was the first Giant drafted when he was the No.1 pick at the club's first draft in 2011, but his career has been cruelled by knee issues, with patella surgery ruining his debut season, and ACL reconstructions doing the same to his 2013 and 2015 campaigns.
The hulking forward said the support he'd received from GWS and his closeness to his teammates made his decision to remain in Sydney "a no-brainer".
"I think it's well known the injuries I've had and the Giants stuck with me during that tough time, so I always said that when my career got back on track I'd definitely repay that faith," he said.
"I'm from Melbourne and I can't see myself living back there, as much as I love my family and friends, Sydney is home for me now.
"A lot of us got drafted here as 18-year-olds and some of us have played with each other since we were 13, so it's not just from making a prelim (final) last year, it's been years in the making this culture we've been creating, and we think it's something that we think can take us forward.
"We've never spoken about it but I think it was just our general thinking that if we stayed together and got through the tough times, bought into the Giants, Sydney, and our game-plan, then the sky was the limit for us.
"I think that’s why a lot of guys have stayed and I hope more will stay, I'm not sure why you'd want to leave to be honest."
After completing his first full pre-season last year, Patton's renewed confidence in his body allowed him to blossom in the second half of 2016; he kicked 15 goals from his last four regular season games, then rebounded from a quiet qualifying final against the Swans to boot four more in the Giants' preliminary final loss to the Western Bulldogs.
A second straight summer without any setbacks now has him primed to cause even more headaches for opposition defenders in 2017.
"I think I'm capable of anything really, and I think that’s what the Giants believe as well," he said.
"But it's a long way to go and there's a lot of hard work (to do), I got through every session of pre-season which was massive for me.
"Last pre-season I just got through it, whereas this year I've really tried to smash myself as much as I could, so I definitely feel a lot fitter.
"It's a great that I've had continuity in my body for the last two years, and it's a great feeling not having to worry about anything on the side, you can just worry about your job."
Gun midfielders Dylan Shiel and Josh Kelly, skilful forward Devon Smith, and young star Jacob Hopper will be the Giants' next big priorities, with the quartet all expected to command big offers from rival clubs if they don't follow Patton's lead.
Shiel told AFL.com.au last month that he's not contemplating a move, while Kelly stated a fortnight ago that he's focusing on his footy, and will let the Giants and his management team to work out his next deal.
