WEST Coast captain Darren Glass will extend his AFL career into a 15th season after re-signing with the Eagles for 2014.
 
Glass was due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season but was never likely to leave the Eagles.
 
At 32, the biggest decision he faced was whether to retire, but his strong form this season and ability to play 16 of the Eagles' 18 games to date convinced him to play on.
 
Glass sits fifth on the Eagles' all-time games list with 258 games and has been one of the best key defenders of the past decade.
 
The No.11 pick in the 1999 national draft is the second-longest serving Eagles captain, having led the club in 117 games since taking over from Chris Judd in 2007.

Glass is a three-time Eagles best and fairest winner – only Glen Jakovich and Ben Cousins (four each) have won more – four-time All Australian and a member of the Eagles' 2006 premiership team.

Barring injury, the key defender should pass the current Eagles games record holder, Jakovich (276 games), next year, but might not overtake second-placed Dean Cox (269).

Cox is also due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, but his manager, Paul Connors, told AFL.com.au last week the ruckman was keen to play on in 2014.

Cox has not missed a game this year, carrying the Eagles' ruck division in a season when his recent ruck partner Nic Naitanui has struggled with groin injuries.

Connors said he expected to start talks with the Eagles on a new contract for Cox soon.
 
Nick Bowen is a reporter with AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick