Exciting young ruck prospect Sean Darcy has committed to Fremantle for the long-term, signing a two-year contract extension that will see him at Freo until at least the end of the 2022 season.

The extension is on top of a deal signed in 2017 that secured the ruckman through to the end of the 2020 season.

Darcy is now set to play at least the next four seasons at Fremantle, joining Michael Walters and Rory Lobb as Freo Dockers who have signed on until 2022.

Only captain Nat Fyfe has a longer agreement with Fremantle, contracted until the end of the 2023 season.

Darcy has averaged 33.7 hit outs per match in his opening 15 AFL games, more than the likes of Aaron Sandilands, Brodie Grundy, Nic Naitanui and Max Gawn at the same point in their careers.

Having trimmed down ahead of the 2019 pre-season, the 20-year-old is expected to use the 2019 season to challenge the veteran Sandilands for the no.1 ruck role.

Darcy said the decision to remain at Fremantle was an easy one and highlighted his relationship with Ross Lyon and his teammates as a significant factor towards re-signing.

“As a group we have a great chemistry and we are all really close. It was an easy decision from my end and I am really excited for the future at Freo,” Darcy said.

“I am close with a lot of the boys so I am loving it here. Ross has been unreal for me during the past two years and I’m enjoying developing with a young group.”

General manager of football Peter Bell said he was delighted to see Darcy commit to the club.

“The contract extension is great news for the club and for Sean. It shows the confidence we have in him as a player while illustrating Sean’s confidence in the club and his desire to succeed at Fremantle,” Bell said.

“Sean is a talented young ruckman who has already made a significant impact on the field.

“He’s a great character to have at the club and we expect him to be a vital cog in our midfield in the long-term.

“It’s safe to say we’ve been spoiled by the contribution of Aaron Sandilands for almost two decades, and while we expect that to continue, having Sean sign on means we can head into the future with confidence.”