Brisbane Lions young guns Lewy Taylor and Darcy Gardiner have both agreed to one-year contract extensions with the Club, which will see them remain at the Lions until at least the end of 2016.
Both in their first year at the Lions, Taylor and Gardiner have played 17 and 12 games respectively, since being drafted by the Lions in the 2013 National Draft.
Taylor, 19, and Gardiner, 18, were drafted by the Lions from the Geelong Falcons, with picks No.22 and 28 overall in the 2013 National Draft.
The duo join are part of a long list of debutants for the Lions in 2014.
The Lions have unveiled eight debutants in 2014, the most by any club in the competition this year.
James Aish (Round 1), Michael Close (Round 1), Taylor (Round 1), Tom Cutler (Round 4), Nick Robertson (Round 4), Gardiner (Round 5), Zac O’Brien (Round 11), and most recently Daniel McStay (Round 15) have all had their chance so far this season.
Of the eight, Taylor and Gardiner, along with James Aish, have become regular fixtures in the senior side.
Taylor was rewarded for his impressive first season to date, receiving the Round 9 NAB Rising Star nomination earlier this year.
In what was just his ninth game of senior football, Taylor, gathered 20 touches, took eight marks and laid three tackles in an encouraging display.
Gardiner and Taylor, join fellow 2013 draftee, Nicholas Robertson, as first year players already extending their contracts with the Club.
The good news comes after the Lions locked away Marco Paparone and Ryan Lester on new deals with the Club earlier this week.
Lions General Manager, Football Operations, Dean Warren, said:
“Lewy and Darcy have both had an immediate impact since coming into the side this year. They are exciting young players and the sort of guys that you can look to build your side around.
“To have these players extend their contracts this early in the piece highlights just how much faith the players have in the direction of this football Club.
“When you look at the long list of names that have signed on this year, you can’t help but get excited.
”Taylor, Gardiner, Close, Mayes, Paparone, Robertson, Lester, Bewick; these young players have an amazing opportunity to develop together and Lions fans should be excited about what the future holds for our footy Club.”