Injury-plagued key defender Josh Gibcus will remain at Richmond until at least the end of 2026, after penning a further season to his existing contract.

The 21-year-old tall has managed just 20 appearances in the big time since being drafted top 10 in 2021, but while the sample is small, the talent is evident.

Gibcus' early career experience was limited to just 18 games in his debut season, where he showed a lot of promise and some impressive performances, like his 18 disposal, 12 mark outing in just his fifth AFL game against Melbourne.

Crueled by a severe hamstring injury that forced him out of 2023 entirely, Richmond eagerly awaited his return to play this season, which ended devastatingly just two games in with an ACL tear against Carlton.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 14: Josh Gibcus of the Tigers leaves the field on a stretcher during the 2024 AFL Round 01 match between the Carlton Blues and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 14, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Etching closer to the upcoming off-season, the club have liked the recovery they've seen from their young prodigy enough to add an extra season to his two-year deal, locking Gibcus at Punt Rd for the next two seasons.

Despite glaring risk, it is the right move for a rebuilding club with not much young talent to be excited about for the future, especially as they prepare to lose many of their experienced campaigners to other clubs for 2025.

Richmond Talent Manager, Blair Hartley, emphasised the club's excitement with this signing.

โ€œJosh has been working hard behind the scenes in our rehabilitation program and with the talent that he has got and the hard work that he continues to put in he will come out the other side an even better player,โ€ Hartley said.

โ€œHe is a big part of our future, so we are thrilled to have him commit further to Richmond and are excited to have him back on the field in 2025 and beyond.โ€

Should his body hold up well over next season and beyond, the hope is that Gibcus will develop into one of the prime key defenders in the competition, with intercepting, lockdown and rebounding abilities, bolstered also by some versatile forward craft.