Bombers key defender Jayden Laverde has shown faith, signing on for a further three years.
The Western Jets product had entered 2022 within the final year of his deal at Tullamarine and held the prospect of exiting as a restricted free agent at season's end.
However, according to reports from The Herald Sun, the former first-round draftee out of Keilor has strengthened his ties to his local side until the cessation of 2025.
Laverde has revitalized his career under new coach Ben Rutten with a stellar 2021 season, seeing him finish sixth in the Crichton Medal and be named Essendon's most improved player.
Laverde hinted at signing on over pre-season and showed his faith after being named the 2021 McCracken Medallist. The players vote for this award on who they believe incorporates the club's core values the most.
The backman has flourished with his uncanny ability to read the flight of the ball in the Bombers' defence, and after 46 games in his first six years for the Red and Black, the 25-year-old didn't miss a game in 2021 and has played every game in 2022.
Speaking to the club's media department, the much-ameliorated Bomber spoke glowingly of the club and how welcome he feels within the four walls.
“I’m thrilled to remain at the Bombers for a further three years. I love this football club and I’m so grateful for the faith they’ve shown in me over many years,” Laverde said.
“There’s no doubt I’ve loved my time playing under ‘Truck’ (Ben Rutten) and ‘Gia’ (backline coach Daniel Giansiracusa) and I’m relishing the new challenge of playing in the backline with a new-look defence.
“I can’t wait to continue to build that strong connection with our young backline to see what we achieve over the next few years.”
Laverde and his Essendon teammates will be seeking to string successive wins together for the first time this season when they face Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Sunday evening.