Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij has signed up for another three years in blue and white, with fellow backman Tom Atkins inking a two-year contract extension.
Kolodjashnij had qualified as a restricted free agent this season before agreeing to the three-year deal.
He missed three games this season with a knee injury, but has since played a crucial role in the backline with Mark Blicavs pushing up on the wing and in the ruck.
Kolodjashnij has played 118 games since debuting in mid-2015 and is a key part of the Cats’ defence.
But the 193cm Tasmanian has still yet to kick his first goal, meaning he holds the longest active streak in the AFL for goalless games.
The Cats have used the versatile defender to take on dangerous tall and small forwards, along with goal-kicking midfielders when they drift up forward.
“Jake can play on all types of opponents, and that gives us flexibility in terms of our match-ups down back,” Geelong football general manager Simon Lloyd said.
“He is a quality player and we are pleased to have secured both players.”
Lloyd included fellow re-signed defender Atkins in his praise.
“Both Tom and Jake are important, versatile members of our team and epitomise a team-first approach in everything they do,” he said.
“Tom has shown he is strong in the contest, can play a variety of roles, having started as a forward who could go into the midfield, and this year transitioning into a defensive role.”
Atkins signed a new two-year contract after 46 games with the Cats, including all 11 this season.
The Cats drafted the former Geelong Falcon and St Joseph’s junior after he starred in Geelong’s VFL program.
Afl.com.au last week reported that Gary Rohan, Rhys Stanley, Brad Close, Gryan Miers and unrestricted free agents Joel Selwood, Jed Bews and Cam Guthrie were set to be out of contract by the end of 2021.
