FREMANTLE youngsters Matt Taberner and Connor Blakely have agreed to contract extensions that will tie them to the Dockers until the end of 2017.

Taberner, 22, was coming out of contract at the end of this season and was dropped last week after battling for form playing as the second key forward.

But coach Ross Lyon said Taberner was still developing and was ahead of schedule after being recruited in the 2012 rookie draft.

Fremantle's offer of a two-year extension suggests the Victorian is in the club's long-term plans as a key forward prospect.

Taberner said he really wanted to develop his football at Fremantle.

"I'm very happy to be here for the next couple of years," Taberner said.

"I'm looking forward to it. There is a good group of young players my age. I look forward to developing here and I think it's a good place to improve my football."

Taberner played four games in his first season in 2013 but really found some form late in 2014. He played nine games including two finals last season and won a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in round 22 against the Brisbane Lions.

The Dockers are grooming him to take over from Matthew Pavlich, and Taberner said the skipper and his fellow forwards had been great for his development.

"They've been fantastic," Taberner said.

"We work as a group and manage to take a lot of things from 'Pav', where to lead and different little things. I'm just trying to fit in there."

Blakely, 19, was contracted until the end of 2016 but has added a one-year extension after showing great promise in the WAFL. He has been very close to debuting for Fremantle on a few occasions this year.

The big-bodied inside midfield said he had been keen to secure his future at Fremantle.

"It was something I definitely wanted to do before the year was over," Blakely said. 

"I'm glad that Freo was happy to extend my contract."

Blakely has averaged 25 disposals in 14 games for Peel Thunder this season after he was recruited with pick No.34 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.