CLUBS move fast in locking down their early draft talents to contract extensions, but nearly half of last year's first-round selections have yet to sign on beyond their mandatory two-year deals.

Players picked in the NAB AFL Draft are given two-year deals to start their careers under AFL rules, but in recent seasons clubs have regularly tried to lock in their top-end youngsters to contract extensions within their first year in the system.

Of last year's 23 first-round selections, 12 have already agreed to extend their stay at their clubs beyond 2020, including Carlton's No.1 pick and NAB AFL Rising Star favourite Sam Walsh.

He is one of five of the top-10 selections who have agreed to extend their stay at their respective clubs, with Adelaide's Chayce Jones locked in the longest of any first-round pick (through to the end of 2023).

Izak Rankine is the only one of Gold Coast's top-10 trio who have re-signed beyond 2020, with talks ongoing to extend promising key position pair Jack Lukosius and Ben King.

Will Lukosius (left) and King (right) join Rankine in signing new deals at the Suns? Picture: AFL Photos



It is expected the discussions will continue into the off-season for the duo, with the club hopeful of securing the pair before the start of next season. The club is closing in on a new deal for defender Jez McLennan, who has spent the season at NEAFL level.

North Melbourne youngster Tarryn Thomas has yet to re-sign, as has Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith, although negotiations are underway for an extension with the promising Dog.

Greater Western Sydney hasn't extended its first-round picks – Jye Caldwell, Jackson Hately and Xavier O'Halloran – as all battle for spots in the Giants' star-studded midfield.

O'Halloran, Caldwell and Hately are all yet to extend their current contracts. Picture: AFL Photos



Conversations have started for an extension for Carlton's Liam Stocker, but there has been no movement yet for Richmond's Riley Collier-Dawkins and Brisbane's Ely Smith as both push for an AFL debut.

The Power this month signed up first-year stars Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma to the end of 2022 after their brilliant debut seasons, while senior regulars Jordan Clark (Geelong) and Nick Blakey (Sydney) are others to have recommitted.

Under the AFL and AFL Players' Association collective bargaining agreement, players picked in the first 20 selections of last year's draft get paid a base wage of $95,000 in 2019 plus $4000 per senior match.

Players drafted from pick 21-40 last year will get $85,000 with $4000 per senior appearance. Top prospects who re-sign with their clubs in their first year are often paid more than $400,000 a season for their third and fourth-year contracts as clubs bank on their talent.

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