ESSENDON football manager Paul Hamilton says Patrick Ryder's new three-year deal is terrific news for the club and a sure indication of where ruckmen are heading.

The Bombers have signed the 21-year-old until the end of 2012, excited by his performances since first-choice ruckman David Hille was forced out for the year after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Collingwood on Anzac Day.

Hamilton said the club had always expected Ryder to follow in the giant steps of West Coast's Dean Cox, who changed the role of big men forever with his ability to take the tap and then play as another midfielder around the ground.

"Paddy – when he was drafted – was drafted as a ruckman," Hamilton said at Windy Hill on Thursday morning. "So when you talk to the people who've been here a while, the idea was to play him in some key positions and build him into a ruckman over time.

"To have a ruckman with some versatility who can give you a lot around the ground ... one of the great attributes Paddy has is his efforts at the contest. It's not just the ruck work, it's the follow-up.

"You see the amount of tackles that Paddy lays, it's just really important the way he goes about it.

"So I think in terms of the future, you want them (ruckmen) to do a number of things. You don't want them just to be a tap ruckman, you want them to be able to compete well at ground level and you want them to be able to get the ball around the ground and kick goals.

"I think there is a trend towards that type of player."

Ryder was recruited from WAFL club East Fremantle with pick seven in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft and has played 63 games since his debut in round one, 2006.

However, in welcoming his new contract he admitted time away from his family was getting tougher.

"I sort-of had it in the back of my mind about going back home, but in the end it was a pretty easy decision," he said. "I've got a lot of mates around here and it's an exciting time at the footy club, with all the young players coming through.

"I'm a fairly close family man, so it's hard living over here. But my family understands that I'm playing footy and doing what I love.

"I reckon it gets harder the longer you're away, but it's turning out alright."