2006 NAB AFL Rising Star winner Danyle Pearce has signed a new three year contract with the Port Adelaide Football Club, which will see him through to the end of the 2009 AFL season.Pearce’s journey to AFL ranks and subsequent rise has been well documented. Having been overlooked in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft, Pearce was Rookie Listed by the Power in 2005.Pearce – who has become known for his lightning speed, agility and ball-winning ability – made his AFL debut in Round 18, 2005 kicking two goals, and has played in all of the club’s games since then (career total 29).Pearce was recognised for his outstanding year in 2006, winning the NAB AFL Rising Star. The stats told his story. Pearce averaged more than 23 disposals a game in 2006, he was 4th in the AFL for kicks inside-50m, 23rd in the AFL for clearances (9th for ball-up clearances and 10th for throw-in clearances), 10th in the competition for loose ball gets and 4th highest for long kicks.Not only did Pearce take out the NAB AFL Rising Star award, but he also achieved a top-10 finish in the Brownlow medal polling 13 votes, he finished 5th in the club’s Best and Fairest and was the inaugural winner of the Gavin Wanganeen Medal.Port Adelaide Coach Mark Williams said that to secure Danyle to a longer term contract was fantastic for the club."We are thrilled to have re-signed Danyle. Danyle is a player who excites all football fans. He runs hard, he carries the ball, he's fast, he's agile, he can tackle, he wins clearances, he kicks the ball inside-50 and kicks goals."The challenge for Danyle now is to continue to work hard, evolove his game and take it to another level, to continue to improve his understanding of the game and to work on the leadership and team aspects also.”Danyle Pearce was pleased to have his future assured.“It’s a huge honour to see that the club has put their faith in me and signed me for another three years and hopefully in the future I can repay them,” Pearce said.“The club gave me my first opportunity here. It would be great to stay at one club for your whole career, and hopefully I can achieve that.”“I think it is a really exciting time at the club and I am really happy to be a part of it. We’ve got a group of players who are very committed to improving and making sure it is not too long before we’re back where the Port Adelaide Football Club should be.”