HE may not have played an AFL game yet, but West Coast youngster Luke Partington has earned himself a contract extension.

The 18-year-old South Australian has impressed since arriving at the draft via last year’s AFL national draft.

Despite only being at the club a couple of months, the talented midfielder has inked a new deal which will keep him at the Eagles until the end of 2018.

“It’s nice to get another year on the contract and while I want to have an impact and play senior football this year, I’m also a realist and breaking into the midfield is going to be tough. But I am up for the challenge,” Partington told Eagle Eye TV.

Partington said he had “really enjoyed” his introduction to life as an AFL footballer.

“The training has been challenging, which I expected, but I’m really enjoying it,” he said.

“The senior players and the coaching staff have been very accommodating, offering advice and direction around training and the game plan that has made things easier for me and the other young guys.”

West Coast general manager Craig Vozzo was rapt to have Partington extend for a further 12 months.

“He has been very impressive in every respect since he arrived at the club,” Vozzo told Westcoasteagles.com.au.

“That hasn’t surprised us at all because that was why we used our first selection on him at the draft.

Camera Icon West Coast youngster Luke Partington at pre-season training. Credit: News Corp Australia, Matthew Poon

“Luke has settled in quite nicely after relocating and has a great appetite to work hard and learn. Already he has earned the respect of the player group and coaching staff, we are confident he can be a successful long-term player at our club and we look forward to watching Luke’s growth through this season and beyond.”

The news wasn’t so good for fellow 2015 draftee Kurt Mutimer, who had hamstring surgery this week.

Mutimer, 18, suffered a small split in the tendon of his left hamstring, aggravating an injury which first occurred before Christmas.