Adelaide spearhead Darcy Fogarty has signed a huge six-year contract extension until the end of the 2031 AFL season.
South Australian Fogarty, 25, was due to enter free agency next season but has instead committed to Adelaide long-term.
He is coming off a career-best 41 goals in 2024 and also surpassed the 100-game mark.
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On announcing the deal, Adelaide said on social media: “A Crow for life 💙❤️💛.”
But the whopping extension – which is effectively for seven years – has surprised many, including Kane Cornes.
Cornes is a vocal critic of long-term contracts after so many have backfired on clubs.
As soon as the Crows made the announcement, one person said: “Can someone please do a welfare check on Kane?”
While Cornes said: “Just an extra 7 years – he must be really, really, really good.”
While some fans responded positively to the news, the overwhelming sentiment was with Cornes.
“I’m a Crows fan and I don’t like this tenure,” one said.
And another: “We’ve seen time and again that these contracts mean nothing if a player and or club wants out. My question is, why does AFC feel the need to always ink long-term deals? Darcy hasn’t exactly set the world on fire the past 8 yrs on the list.”
And another: “Plays at least 2 good games a year, if they play the Blues twice.”
And another: “This is basically a standard contract for key signings now.”
Fogarty said in a statement that he loved the club and felt it was “heading in an exciting direction”.
“As a forward line we have built some great chemistry and it’s been good to learn from some of our senior players, and now have the opportunity to pass some of that knowledge and experience onto others,” he said.
“No career is without its challenges and I feel like I’ve made some real growth in my first 100 games and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next 100 hold.
“I’d love to finish my career a one-club player, the club has put its faith in me and I’m excited to repay them and continue the journey with my teammates.”
Fogarty was chosen at pick No.12 in the 2017 AFL draft and has overcome a testing start to his career to become a crucial part of Adelaide’s forward set-up.
With Taylor Walker in the twilight of his career and Riley Thilthorpe still young, Fogarty will likely lead Adelaide’s attack next year.
His early signature is also crucial for an Adelaide team determined to make finals and relieve pressure on coach Matthew Nicks in his sixth year at the helm.
“The growth we have seen in Darcy since being drafted, but particularly over the past two seasons, has been significant,” list boss Justin Reid said.
“His ability to work up the ground, his contested marking and finishing as one of the more reliable set shots in the competition, make him a very important part of our forward line.
“He embraced the opportunity to step up as part of our leadership group this year and his form was recognised with a top-five placing in our club champion award.
“We are very obviously thrilled that he’s committed his long-term future to the club.”
Fogarty joins Sydney’s Nick Blakey, Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage, GWS’s Brent Daniels and Carlton’s Jacob Weitering in re-signing until 2031.
Only Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee, Western Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton, St Kilda’s Max King, GWS defender Sam Taylor and Richmond’s Noah Balta, all signed until 2032, have longer contracts.
– With 7NEWS Digital