WEST Coast has locked in three of its most impressive young players, with Jack Darling, Andrew Gaff and Scott Lycett signing new contracts.
The Eagles announced the new deals on Monday afternoon, but not before Lycett had announced his news via his Instagram account.
The 21-year-old ruckman jumped the gun, announcing his excitement at signing a four-year contract extension.
There had been mounting speculation this season surrounding the future of the 21-year-old ruckman, who is from South Australia.
Port Adelaide was reportedly interested in luring Lycett home.
But once veteran Eagle Dean Cox confirmed he was retiring at the end of the season, Lycett was certain to stay.
Lycett's excitement got the better of him when he announced he had signed the deal via his Instagram account before his club got the chance to break the news.
"I have really enjoyed the opportunity to learn some of the finer points of ruck work from Nic (Naitanui) and Coxy," Lycett told the Eagles website.
"I have said that for a long time, that it has been a unique situation to learn from two of the game's best and I feel privileged to be in that position.
"I look forward to working with them both, with Coxy as ruck coach, to get the club to a position of power again."
In a major boost for the Eagles, Darling has signed what is believed to be a lucrative two-year contract extension.
The 22-year-old signed a contract extension at the end of 2013 but the length of the deal was never announced. It has been reported that he was contracted until the end of 2015 and this new extension is said to run until the end of the 2017 season.
"I am really confident we can build on what we have achieved this year," Darling told the Eagles website.
"There is no doubt that as a team we have improved and we are a young playing group that is looking to have a big impact on the competition."
Darling has enjoyed a remarkable start to his career after being selected with pick No. 26 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
He has played 88 of a possible 91 matches since being drafted and was the club's leading goalkicker in 2012 with 53 goals. He finished fourth in the club's best and fairest that season and he finished fifth in the club champion award last year, kicking 42 goals.
The left-footer, who was drafted with pick No. 4 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, has produced an impressive month of football, averaging 28 disposals in the past four weeks and he kicked three goals in the Eagles' win over Adelaide in round 19.
"It's an exciting time at the footy club and I want to be a part of what we can see on the horizon," Gaff told the Eagles website.
"We have had a lot of senior players retire in the last two seasons, so the onus is on the young guys to take the club back into finals where we can have an impact."
