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WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Marcus Bontempelli has pledged his loyalty to the club, signing a long-term contract extension until the end of 2019.
The 19-year-old has been a revelation since being recruited by the Bulldogs with pick No.4 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, averaging 21 disposals and kicking 17 goals in his 21 appearances this season.
Bontempelli said he was honoured to remain at the club he loved.
"My teammates, coaches and staff are just an extended part of my family and I feel very privileged to come in to work every day to help improve our club with them," Bontempelli said on Sunday night.
"I just couldn't be prouder to be a Western Bulldogs player and I know that will continue well into my career."
In 2014, Bontempelli capped his debut year at the elite level by being voted by his peers as the best first-year player at the AFLPA MVP awards. He narrowly missed out on the NAB AFL Rising Star Award, won by Brisbane Lion Lewy Taylor.
Bulldogs chief executive David Stevenson said Bontempelli's re-signing was a significant show of confidence in the direction the club was heading under coach Luke Beveridge.
"Marcus is a high quality person and player, and is one of many young people at our club whose enthusiasm to help take this club forward is both genuine and infectious," Stevenson said.
"We are excited by the quality of talent we have at the Bulldogs, but we are also fully committed to investing into their development both on and off field so they can reach their potential as people and players."
Bontempelli has played a total of 37 games and registered 32 goals since making his debut in round five, 2014.
The 192cm ball-winner is the latest Bulldog to commit to the club long-term, joining teammates Jake Stringer, Jack Macrae, Tom Boyd, Mitch Wallis, Easton Wood, Tom Liberatore, Luke Dahlhaus and Jordan Roughead.