JAYDEN Hunt has agreed to a new deal with the club and will remain with Melbourne until at least the end of 2018.

General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney confirmed in the lead-up to round eight that Hunt had put pen to paper.

“Jayden has developed well [after an injury-interrupted start to his career], given his background was mainly playing school football,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“We saw glimpses in his second year, and he showed the potential that we thought he had, once he got a consistent training block and we offered him a one-year contract.

“He has continued to improve this year and he’s extremely coachable and has attributes in his game that are at AFL level.

“He’s already having an impact on AFL games and we look forward to his continued development over the next two years.”

The speedy half-back will play his fifth AFL match for Melbourne against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Sunday, after making his AFL debut against Collingwood in round four this year.

Hunt was drafted at No.57 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

His first two years were rocked by injuries, predominantly back problems.

But his breakaway dash and ability to take the game on has already been a highlight in his promising career.

He played his best AFL match so far against the Gold Coast Suns last round in Melbourne’s 73-point win at Metricon Stadium, notching up 19 disposals.

The 21-year-old is an exciting player and looms as a long-term prospect.

Hunt comes from a football background, with his great uncle Harold Rumney a member of Collingwood’s four successive premierships from 1927-30.

Rumney played 186 matches from 1925-35 and 1937, including 15 with Carlton from 1925-26 and 171 with Collingwood from 1927-35 and 1937.

Hunt’s uncle Andrew Moir played 73 matches for Melbourne from 1977-81.