RUCKMAN Matthew Lobbe has signed a new contract to remain at Port Adelaide for another two years.
 
The 24-year-old has emerged as Port's first-choice big man this season and has averaged 36 hit-outs a game since its round 11 bye.
 
Lobbe had previously said he wished to remain at Alberton and on Monday confirmed he only needed to finalise details in order to ink a new deal.
 
"I was never worried I was going to go anywhere else and I said before I love being at Port Adelaide, so it was a matter of timing," Lobbe said.
 
Lobbe has played 39 AFL games since making his debut in 2010 but his past month in particular has been exceptional.
 
Against Geelong in round 20 he amassed 59 hit-outs - the third highest registered in a single game in VFL/AFL history,
 
At the weekend his 42 hit-outs against Gold Coast brought his average over the past four games to 39 hit-outs a match.
 
He's rarely enjoyed an injury-free season and the 200cm big man credited his good form on a healthy body.
 
"This year has been the most uninterrupted I've been injury-wise," he said.
 
"Having a big pre-season is really important and most of our playing group did that, so that's been one of the keys for me."
 
Coach Ken Hinkley said the club was only just beginning to see the best of Lobbe.
 
"He is at that age where ruckmen tend to develop best," Hinkley said on Monday.
 
"He has had an outstanding season for us this year despite having to shoulder a lot of the ruck on his own."
 
Port Adelaide will fight Fremantle this weekend to absolutely cement its place in the upcoming finals.
 
 
His omission would hardly make Lobbe's job any easier, he said, praising the form of Zac Clarke.
 
The Power look certain to be without the services of midfielder Hamish Hartlett, who was offered two games from the Match Review Panel for his bump on Seb Tape on Saturday.
 
The club is yet to decide whether it will challenge the charge, but Hartlett's shoulder injury suffered on Saturday could mean he'll miss games regardless.
 
Hartlett dislocated his left shoulder against the Suns, but has recovered well and won't require scans.