AFL

Mayne Wants Freo Premiership

Sunday 7th February 2010

Author: LMSC

Photographer:

'The Fremantle Dockers have received some good news as they head into the opening round of the pre-season NAB cup with the announcement that young forward Chris Mayne has agreed to a contract extension.

The 21 year-old was due to come out of contract at the end of 2010, but has accepted an offer to remain a Docker for a further season.

Fremantle player manager Brad Lloyd said securing Mayne for a further year was a great result with the goal sneak set to become a key component to the club’s new-look forward structure.

“Chris is an exciting talent and we are delighted that he has committed to the club through to the end of the 2011 season,” Lloyd said.

Mayne was considered a great pickup by the Dockers in the 2007 national draft, having been overlooked by the other clubs, Fremantle were able to snap him up with pick 40.

After playing just eight games of league football for WAFL side Perth in 2007, Mayne was thrust into the AFL arena in 2008 playing 17 matches for Fremantle kicking 12 goals.

But in 2009 his development was curtailed by a serious Achilles tendon injury that restricted him to just 5 games. Although despite his limited on-field presence, he showed more of his burgeoning potential managing 10 goals, including 4 against Port Adelaide.

"I want to be in the first premiership for Fremantle and I strongly believe that we're not that far away,” Mayne told the Sunday Times.

"Half of our squad is under 21 and we're starting to see progress and excitement in where we want to go."

A former North Melbourne supporter, Mayne was given the number 23 jumper for Fremantle, the former number of club record games holder Shane Parker.