FREMANTLE has eliminated the risk of 2008 NAB AFL Rising Star Rhys Palmer being snapped up by the Gold Coast at the end of next season, extending the promising midfielder's contract until the end of 2011.

Palmer is one of five Fremantle players to recently re-sign with the club, with Ryan Crowley, Dean Solomon, Kepler Bradley and Tim Ruffles also extending their contracts.   

Crowley has signed a new two-year deal that takes him through to the end of 2011 while Bradley and Solomon have signed one-year extensions for next season.

Exciting first-year player Ruffles, who is expected to miss 12 months of football after undergoing a knee reconstruction late in the season, has signed a one-year extension, keeping him at the club until the end of 2011.

Palmer, who is also returning from a knee reconstruction after suffering a season-ending injury in round five, is now out of the Gold Coast's reach.

The League's 17th licence can sign 16 uncontracted players - one from each club - at the end of the 2010 season.

The 20-year-old would have been high on the Gold Coast's agenda after a stunning debut year in 2008, in which he averaged more than 23 possessions from his 20 games.

General manager of player management Brad Lloyd said the five re-signings were important to the future direction of the club.

“Rhys is the reigning NAB AFL Rising Star and an important part of our long-term future. We are delighted that he has committed to Fremantle through to the end of 2011,” he said.

“Following his surgery earlier in the season, Rhys has been working very diligently on his rehabilitation and we are really looking forward to having him back out on the field next season.”

Chief tagger Crowley has joined Palmer on the sidelines this season after seriously injuring his foot in the round six western derby. Both players were running laps of Fremantle Oval on Monday afternoon and are expected to be fit to start pre-season.

Bradley played 15 games this season and hit some impressive late-season form as a back-up ruck option to Aaron Sandilands.

Ruffles, 18, has played just three games for the club but impressed with his courage and goal-sense before injuring his knee in round 17.