Melbourne have extended the contract of their 19-year-old hard nut Koltyn Tholstrup, locking him at the club with a two-year deal to extend his stay until 2028.

The extension is a profound statement to their impression of the young bull, already being contracted until 2026 before the recent signing under the AFL's new rookie contract scheme.

Taken with pick 13 of the 2023 National Draft, Tholstrup has quickly settled into his new home, shifting from Subiaco to Melbourne as an 18-year-old, and has earned a regular gig in the senior side since their mid-season bye.

He brings plenty of spunk and fiery aggression for a youngster, not afraid to test the ego of opposition stars like Dayne Zorko.

Beginning his senior career exclusively up forward, he is an exciting watch for Melbourne fans beyond the retro hair-do.

His 10 touches and four tackles per game are impactful and highly regarded by the club, as shared by list manager Tim Lamb.

โ€œWe're really thrilled that Koltyn has signed on with us for the next few years; he has seized every challenge thrown at him in his first season and has already grown tremendously," Lamb said.

โ€œWe can all see the talent he possesses, but his work ethic is what will see him continue to improve. He is a great teammate and has quickly won the respect of everyone at the club.

โ€œHe's really embraced the Melbourne values since his arrival.ย  It is another great sign for our club that such a talented young player has committed long term.โ€

Tholstrup becomes the fourth Demon to sign on in the last week, with fellow youngsters Daniel Turner and Caleb Windsor joining key-post prospect Harrison Petty with recent contract extensions.