CARLTON utility Andrew Walker has signed a three-year contract extension as the Blues set about securing their six remaining free agents.
Walker, who enjoyed an outstanding 2013 season after being redeployed to half-back, is now tied to the club until the end of 2017.
The 27-year-old, who put pen to paper on Tuesday afternoon, said Carlton was his home and he had wanted to settle his new contract early in the year.
Recruited with pick No.2 in the 2003 NAB AFL Draft, he said he would enter his 11th season ready to contribute both forward and in the backline.
"I think I can be a multi-position player, which is where the game is heading, because I think I’m equipped to handle that sort of role," he said.
"I had one of my best seasons last year and leading into this season I’m feeling a bit fitter and a bit better, so hopefully I’m like that rare bottle of wine, only getting better with age.
"I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself now and I feel like I’ve settled."
Captain Marc Murphy, Michael Jamison, Jarrad Waite, Kade Simpson, Bryce Gibbs and Heath Scotland are all due to come out of contract at the end of this season.
Football manager Andrew McKay said the club was working to re-sign each of its free agents "methodically and in a controlled manner" and was not hitting the panic button.
"Our aim is to keep everyone at the club – that is paramount," he told the Herald Sun.
"They’re all required players and we’ll be doing our damnedest to keep them here and I think we can.
"Obviously we’re talking to a lot of them currently and we’re keen to get all of them done as soon as we can.
"We’re very confident we can get them all done."
