Gold Coast SUNS star Jack Martin has extended his contract with the club, signing on until the end of the 2019 season.



Martin, who finished third in the 2016 SUNS Club Champion award, said he was thrilled to re-sign with the club.



Martin joined the SUNS late in 2012 as a 17-year-old after the club traded draft selections with the GWS Giants to secure selection one in the GWS Trade Incentive Draft and in 2013, before he had played a senior game, extended his initial contract with the club to a five-year deal.



“I’m rapt to extend my contract with the club. I moved across to the other side of the country joining Gold Coast as a seventeen year old. I feel like I’ve grown up with the club itself and my teammates," Martin said.



“We haven’t achieved what we all had hoped for in that time, but the playing group is ready for the challenge, we really feel we will win back respect this year.



“There’s a great feel amongst the team having just moved into our new home. We all can’t wait for the season to start and I see an exciting future with this group."



Martin’s manager, Jason Dover of Stride Sports, said a deal to sign Martin was always on the cards.



“Jack has been weighing up his future for a while now and wanted to work through the decision with us and his family. It was great that the SUNS took the opportunity to present to them all a few weeks back and provide a detailed update on where the club was at.



“It made the decision easier for Jack especially considering the new training and administration base, and how tight this group of players have become, so Jack couldn’t be happier to commit for a couple of extra years,” Dover said.



List & Strategy Manager Scott Clayton believes Martin will once again take his game to another level in 2017.



“Jack demonstrated last year that he will be a very important player for us going forward, that was highlighted by his third placing in the Best & Fairest.



“He is three seasons into his AFL career, due to injury he played 11 & 12 games respectively in 2014 & 2015, but last year he got his body right and played 21 games.



“There’s something special about the way he plays and what is exciting is that his best footy is in front of him,” Clayton said.