Essendon champion Jobe Watson has signed a new four-year deal that will see the Bombers’ captain remain at the club until at least the end of the 2017 season.



The reigning Brownlow Medallist will now lead the side out against Sydney on Saturday afternoon knowing the Watson family dynasty is safe for several years to come.



“To commit to the club on a four year deal, it will probably finish off my time at the footy club,” Watson said on The Hangar.



“Loyalty is something that is important to me. There are always times in your career where you do have options, but one thing that I’m very proud of is that the Watson name and its association with the Essendon Football Club, has now been so for more than a quarter of a century.“



"I see the football club as an extension of my family. It gives a lot of joy to my family and for the supporters, and that’s what I love about the club, the amount of happiness it brings to the people around me.”



Senior coach James Hird said Jobe’s leadership, both on and off the field, has provided the team with stability through a difficult few months.



“The player he’s become, the leader he’s become and the person he is, is a credit to himself and to the football club and we are very proud to have him re-sign for four years,” Hird said.



“The reason why Jobe is such a good leader is that he cares genuinely about people. Jobe brings other people with him, he has the respect of his teammates, he is a competitor and people want to compete for him, and he is very self driven and that all adds up to a very good leader.”



Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro believes the skippers’ signing says a lot about the strong culture of the football club.



“Jobe is a fantastic captain of the football club, and for him to sign on for a further four years is a vote of confidence in the direction we are heading,” said Dodoro.



“It’s pleasing to see the likes of Watson, Heppell and Carlisle, who could have earned more money elsewhere, stick with the club. We have a really exciting group of players and the club’s supporters should be really optimistic about the future.”



Tune into The Hangar from 9pm tonight to hear more from Watson.

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