Crows midfielder signs contract extension

Crows midfielder Ben Keays has inked a two-year extension with the club following a career-best campaign at West Lakes.

The new contract will see Keays call Adelaide home until the end of the 2024 season, looking to add to his 68 AFL games between stints with the Lions and Crows.

The 24-year-old joined Adelaide ahead of the 2020 season via the Rookie Draft after not being offered a new deal at Brisbane.

Keays' two seasons with the Crows have seen the ball-magnet place fifth and second in the Malcolm Blight Medal tally across seasons 2020 and 2021 respectively.

The Redland product amassed career-high numbers for disposals, marks, tackles, inside 50s, clearances and contested possessions this year, while also polling 11 Brownlow votes.

Speaking on his new deal, Keays expressed his gratitude to the club and stated his excitement in the Crows' future.

“I can’t thank the Club enough for showing faith in me and wanting to sign me up,” he said.

“Their faith makes me hungrier to work hard to pay them back.

“I really believe we have a special group, we have so many guys motivated to get the best out of themselves and it’s great to be a part of. To basically build from the ground up over the last two seasons, the journey is going to be very rewarding.”

Keays has played 38 games in his two seasons in South Australia, already surpassing his games tally with the Lions, where he was situated for four years.

2021 has been a stellar season of re-signings for Adelaide, with Matt Crouch, Tom Doedee, Rory Laird, Taylor Walker, Paul Seedsman and Reilly O'Brien headlining the 28 players who have inked new contracts this year.