Breakout GWS ruckman Kieren Briggs has earned a new contract with the Giants that will see his services with the New South Wales side locked in until the end of the 2026 season.
The 23-year-old was already contracted for the next 12 months, but after a stellar 2023 campaign the Giants and Briggs have moved to add a further two years to the local talent's tenure.
Briggs had played just nine games before this season, and since his recall in Round 10 the big-bodied ruckman has featured in 15 successive matches to help steer Adam Kingsley's side to a finals showing.
The Pennant Hills junior and GWS Academy graduate has quickly emerged as one of the premier ruckmen in the competition over this season, with Briggs telling the club's website his decision to re-sign came with little hesitancy.
“I think we're building something really special at the club and I'm really excited to be part of it for the next three years,” he said.
“The decision is made a bit easier being from Sydney and Sydney being home so I'm close to family, but the GIANTS are my family too, so I've just loved it.”
Briggs is averaging 26.2 hitouts, 15.73 disposals, 6.6 clearances and 4.87 tackles per game in 2023.
Ranking among the best-performing key position players in the AFL, Briggs admitted his newfound form has come as some surprise.
“It's been a bit of a surprise,” he said.
“I knew I've always had the ability, but it's been really nice to pay back the time and the effort all the coaches have put into me the last few years, especially Shane [Mumford] – he'll love that, he comes up in everything.
“It's been really pleasing and just having the belief in the playing group as well.”
This weekend's meeting with Port Adelaide will be Briggs' 25th game in the orange and charcoal, with the Giants travelling to Adelaide Oval in the hope of booking a preliminary final return.
A win would see the Giants face Collingwood at this MCG a week later, needing one further victory to be in the grand final.
Saturday's meeting with the Power will commence at 7:10pm local time.