TOUGH Fremantle youngster Mitch Crowden has inked a two-year contract extension, tying him to the club until at least the end of 2021.  

The 19-year-old has exceeded expectations so far this season, playing every game since making his debut in round two.

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Crowden, taken with pick 59 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, is one of four first-year Dockers – alongside early picks Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra, plus rookie bolter Bailey Banfield - holding down a regular spot in the rebuilding line-up.  

No.2 pick Brayshaw has already recommitted until the end of 2021, and South Australian product Crowden had no hesitation putting pen to paper.

"I’m pretty excited to be honest," Crowden said.

"When I came to the club I wasn’t expecting to get anything like this this early. I’m stoked to get it and to spend another two years at the Dockers. 

"It was a pretty easy decision. I had a chat to dad and some family members and we felt the correct decision was just to get it done as soon as possible to start building my career." 

Crowden is forging a reputation for his hardness and is averaging 3.6 tackles – laying the second-most at Freo since he made his debut.

The nuggety midfielder prepared for AFL by playing nine senior games for SANFL premier Sturt last year and is one of 22 new faces to arrive at the Dockers in the past two off-seasons.

"Just the pace of the game and the structure required to play AFL is probably the biggest step up," Crowden said.

"I’m still learning and I’ve got a lot to improve on but I think that’s positive for our team. 

"We’ve got so much growth left in us in the coming years. All I see is improvement."