IN AN unprecedented move, Gold Coast has locked away its four top-10 picks from last year's NAB AFL Draft until the end of 2020.
Ben Ainsworth (number four selection), Will Brodie (seven), Jack Scrimshaw (nine) and Jack Bowes (10) each added two years to their initial deal in a coup for the club.
It comes on the back of news earlier in the week that Suns Academy product Brad Scheer has extended his stay until the end of 2019.
Ainsworth said the four good mates – all graduates of the AFL Academy - were thrilled to extend their futures with the club.
"From the moment we were drafted, the club and the players have been sensational, so it’s no surprise we all have jumped at the chance to extend our contracts to four years," Ainsworth said.
"The four of us have a close bond and we are rapt to make this statement together. We simply don’t want to be anywhere else. The Gold Coast is home."
New Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans said signing up the four top-10 draftees to four-year deals had never been done in the AFL.
"Each of them are outstanding young football players, and even better people, and we’re rapt to have them and their families on board," Evans said.
Young Suns on draft day: (L-R) Jack Bowes, Will Brodie, Ben Ainsworth, Jack Scrimshaw and Brad Scheer