Promising half-back Alex Witherden has delighted Brisbane Lions members and supporters by extending his playing contract with the Club until the end of 2020.

The Lions have recently celebrated many emerging players extending their contracts, and Witherden was regarded as their final key target.

“It’s extremely exciting and I’m really thankful to the Club for sticking with me for another two years,” Witherden told lions.com.au

Hey Lions fans! I have extended my playing contract until the end of 2020! See you at the GABBA — Alex Witherden (@alexwitherden29) February 2, 2018

Captain Dayne Beams was integral to Witherden putting pen to paper.

“He’s been a really big mentor for me along the way,” he said.

“He leads by example and he’s hard but fair and I think that’s what you want as a leader.”

After joining the Lions at Pick No. 23 in the 2016 AFL Draft, Witherden excelled in nine Senior matches in 2017, averaging 23 disposals per match on the half-back flank.

The Geelong Falcons’ junior impressed with his accurate kicking, footy smarts and work rate to earn a Rising Star nomination in Round 17 – an award he will still be eligible to win in 2018.

“Alex made a strong impression in the nine games that he played in 2017. This was off the back of almost 12 months out of the game with a broken leg,” Senior Coach Chris Fagan said.

“He has had a consistent pre-season and is set to build on the excellent form he displayed in the second half of last year. His ability to be a future leader of our club is also emerging.”

General Manager of Football David Noble said, “We are extremely excited to secure Alex here at the Gabba until 2020.

“We look forward to watching him grow with us and seeing what he, along with our emerging group of re-signings, will bring in the coming years.

“Alex is a bright, young man with footy smarts well beyond his 19 years.”

In another bonus for the Club, new draftee and Lions Academy graduate Jack Payne has added an extra year to his playing contract, also signing with Brisbane until 2020.

“It’s a real positive for the Club and the direction we are heading that both young men have chosen to commit to our mission for an extended period of time,” Fagan said.

“Jack has adapted to the disciplined lifestyle of an AFL player extremely well,” Fagan said

“He has demonstrated in his training that he has the athletic attributes and attitude to develop into a highly competitive key defender.

“He played as a 17-year-old in our NEAFL premiership team last season and is another graduate of our Lions Academy.”

Witherden and Payne join the likes of Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Cam Rayner, Harris Andrews, Eric Hipwood, Dan McStay, Ben Keays, Tom Cutler, Nick Robertson, Sam Skinner, Jacob Allison who have all recently extended their contracts at the Club.