ESSENDON is closing in on the signature of Aaron Francis, with the out-of-contract top-10 pick heading towards a new two-year deal.

Francis' current deal expires at the end of this season, but AFL.com.au understands the 21-year-old is set to extend his stay at the club until the end of 2021. 

FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game

The No.6 selection from the 2015 NAB AFL Draft is into his fourth year at the club and has registered only 17 games. 

However, seven of those have been this season – the most of any single year – where he has played mainly as a forward given Essendon's shortage of marking options in attack.

WHO MAKES FINALS? Do the 2019 Ladder Predictor

He has been named in the backline for Sunday's clash with Carlton at the MCG. 

Francis showed the best form of his career late in 2018, when he played the last five games of the year and took the eye with some brilliant aerial exploits.

Although yet to build consistency in his game, Francis is regarded as one of Essendon's purest talents.

He requested a trade out of Essendon at the end of 2017 back to South Australia, but after no deal was struck, he remained at the Bombers.

Find AFL Exchange on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

At the start of last season he stepped away from the club to deal with a mental health issue, before returning after a month's absence. 

Francis, who is settled into Melbourne, has again attracted the interest of the clubs from his home state, but is expected to recommit to the Bombers, possibly within weeks. 

Essendon does not have an extensive out-of-contract list this year, although small forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Darcy Parish, who was drafted with the selection before Francis in 2015, remain unsigned beyond this season.