ESSENDON forward Scott Gumbleton has been rewarded for his breakout season with a two-year contract extension, while teammates Mark McVeigh and Kyle Reimers have also re-signed with the club.
Injuries had limited Gumbleton, the No.2 pick in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, to just five games in three seasons, but he managed 17 this year in the Bombers' new-look attack.
The 22-year-old's season was ended prematurely when he broke his ribs in the round-18 win over St Kilda.
General manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said the club was otherwise pleased with Gumbleton's campaign.
"We are confident he will develop into a solid contributor over the years to come," Hamilton told Essendon's website.
Gumbleton said the decision to stay at Essendon was a simple one, and that he believed the club's developing list was capable of delivering future success.
"We are obviously going through a tough time at the moment but Essendon is a strong club and we will come out of this challenging time as a stronger and more united group," he said.
"We are determined to do whatever it takes to take this proud club back to where it belongs."
McVeigh and Reimers' new deals will also take them through to the end of 2012, with 29-year-old McVeigh almost certain to finish his career a one-club player.
A first-round draft selection in 1998 (No.9 overall), McVeigh has played 206 games for the Bombers but has struggled with injuries and form in the last two seasons.
"Mark is a durable player who has shown his versatility by adapting to different roles in the team this year," Hamilton said.
"The leadership he provides to our young group is also a big boost for the club and is valued very highly."
Reimers, 21, has played 39 games since his 2007 debut.
"We believe Kyle has a lot of talent and we look forward to working with him to maximise his potential," Hamilton said.