St Kilda forward Paddy McCartin is set to sign a two-year contract that will see him remain a Saint until at least the end of the 2020 season.
McCartin was entering the final year of his contract this season, but will have his contract extended for a further two seasons in a show of faith by the Saints, according to foxsports.com.au.
The 21-year-old was reportedly going to be the focus of some intense courting from Geelong at the end of the 2018 season, with the Cats keen to pair the Saint with tom Hawkins, before eventually replacing him as the club's star forward.
McCartin is currently working himself back from a foot injury he suffered in November, after blitzing the club's 3km time trial with a personal best.
The forward is still a week away from full training, but the injury won't delay his start to the season, which was something he told reporters after the incident happened.
“I’m feeling really confident and so are the doctors and everyone I have spoken to that I am going to be fine and I’m really looking forward to next year,” McCartin said late last year.
McCartin has played 22 games for the Saints and bagged 22 goals since being drafted with the first pick in the 2014 National Draft, and will now look to fill the void left by retiring club champion Nick Riewoldt.