PROMISING young Demons Matthew Bate, Colin Garland, Nathan Jones, Michael Newton, Ricky Petterd and James Frawley have all re-committed to the club, finalising agreements in recent days.
Twenty-one-year-old Bate, Garland (20), Jones (20), Newton (21), Petterd (20), and Frawley (19), have all signed two-year deals that will see them with MELBOURNEfc for at least the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
"It's great to know that I will be here for at least the next two years and hopefully well beyond 2010," Bate said.
"It's also good to hear that the other five guys have had their contracts renewed, and we are all very enthusiastic about the team's future in years to come.
"We are going through a pretty tough trot at the moment, but I'm confident we are headed in the right direction.
"Hopefully a lot of this younger group can develop together to be part of a successful period for the Melbourne Football Club."
Bate, originally recruited from Eastern Ranges, has played 11 games this season and has kicked 36 goals in his 44-game career.
Frawley has played eight games this year, for a total of 17, after being recruited from North Ballarat.
Garland has played a total of 17 games, including 15 this season, after joining the club only last year from North Hobart.
Newton, originally from Whorouly in country Victoria, has had an injury-riddled season and has only managed four games. His career totals 14 games and 20 goals.
Petterd has also struggled to play in 2008. After lining up round one, he has missed nearly the entire season with a groin injury. Petterd has kicked six goals from his 10 senior appearances.