Fremantle’s pick no.5 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, Adam Cerra, has signed a two-year contract extension that will see the 18-year-old at the club until at least the end of the 2021 season.

Cerra joins Andrew Brayshaw as the second of Fremantle’s first round picks from the 2017 draft to sign contract extensions with the club.

Drafted from the Eastern Ranges in Victoria, Cerra had a strong focus on using the 2018 season to establish his new foundations on and off the field in WA.

The NAB Rising Star nominee played 21 games for Fremantle in his debut season and commenced a Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University.

The 18-year-old said he was excited to build on his debut year with a young group of players.

“I’m really excited for the coming years, we are a young group and it was really exciting when we were playing well and I’m sure we will continue to build on that,” Cerra said.

“I’ve made a lot of really close friendships here, there was 10 of us drafted last year and I’m close with all those guys.

“We’re a really tight knit group, so I’m excited about the future playing alongside them.”

Cerra decided before the season that any discussion around his contract was something he wanted to take place at the end of the season and he has stood by that commitment.

“I went into the season wanting to put all that behind me and just focus on my footy, I knew once the season was over I would sit down and extend my contract,” Cerra said.

“Personally, I want to keep improving my game, hopefully get a bit more time in the midfield and learn from Nat Fyfe.”

Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich said the club was thrilled to have a player of Adam’s calibre commit to the club.

“Adam has been terrific since he arrived last year with pick no. 5 in the draft,” Rosich said.

“What he was able to deliver in his first year of AFL footy was outstanding and he is a really important part of the future growth of our club.

“With the introduction of 22 new players since the end of 2016, it is really important that someone of Adam’s character and talent is with us long term as we are focused on bringing our cohort of young players through together.

“He believes in what we are doing and where we are going as a football club… and we very much believe in him.

“Adam is one of three top 10 draftees to join the club in the past two drafts and an important part of our future and our growth as a club,” Rosich said.

Cerra’s debut season saw him spend some time up forward and through the midfield before moving to half-back. He managed a spectacular 30-possession, best-on-ground effort in Freo’s win over Adelaide in round 12.

The young gun then followed up with 23 disposals, seven marks, six intercept possessions, five rebound 50s and three clearances in an all-round performance against Melbourne in Darwin in round 16.