Domenic Cassisi will see out the decade at the Port Adelaide Football Club.

The hard-working midfielder has signed a new three-year contract that runs from 2008 until the end of 2010.

It will make Cassisi a ten-year player at the Power, having joined via the 2000 NAB AFL Draft, with the late pick of selection No. 50.

Western Australian-born Cassisi, who joined the club from East Fremantle, said the long-term appointment of Power coach Mark Williams and the support of his family had been major reasons in deciding to sign long-term at Port Adelaide.

“If someone had said seven years ago when I got drafted that I’d be here for ten years, I wouldn’t have believed it and it’s probably fair to say Choco wouldn’t have believed it either,” Cassisi said with a laugh.

“It has been a steady journey and a very enjoyable one. I’ve been lucky enough to play in a premiership and that ties me to the club a fair bit.

“When Choco re-signed with the club at the end of last year, that pretty much made 50% of my decision for me.

“I’m very close to my family (back in Perth), and Mum and Dad and my brother are fully supportive of my decision and I thank them for that.

“I’m really excited to be at a club that has been great to me over a long period of time and I’m looking forward to winning another premiership here.”

Williams said Cassisi had been an outstanding asset to the club.

“Dom is a very consistent player. He is a versatile player. He can tag, he can win clearances, he is a great tackler, he puts tremendous pressure on opponents, he can kick goals,” Williams said.

“If you think back to that draft in 2000, we also picked up Shaun Burgoyne and Kane Cornes that day. But we picked Dom with a very late pick, we brought him over from Perth, and he has progressed every year he has been here to now be at the point where he will become a Life Member of the club for his ten years.

“To his credit he played in our premiership before his 50th game and now as he approaches his 100th game, we are really seeing his leadership, the way he helps the young players and his personality around the club having a big impact on the place as well.

“He has a fantastic family unit plus his friends and good mate Josh Carr back in Perth. So the fact he wants to stay at Port Adelaide says plenty about his loyalty and we think it says plenty about our welcoming, nurturing set-up here too, and the exciting future in front of us.”

Cassisi has played 85 AFL games. He made his debut against Fremantle in Round 14 2002. He was part of the 2004 premiership side, finished third in the best-and-fairest in 2005, was the club’s most improved player in 2005 and was part of the 2002 pre-season premiership side.