Sam Docherty was thrilled to sign a contract extension before the new season started.Credit:Getty Images
“It’s always a relief to get a contract done. It obviously locks you in for a fixed period of time and[means you are] stress-free on your future,” Docherty said.
“This one gets me to 32,so I’m in the twilight,unfortunately,but I’m excited to be able to have this year plus two more with this group and see where we can go.
“I’m pretty excited with what we’ve got,so hopefully[I] can get a flag and sail into the twilight –[that] would be nice.
“I’ve been through a fair few uncertain times throughout my career and life,and I’ve been very lucky with the footy club ... to be able to have that certainty moving forward[is fantastic],and I’ve just had a daughter as well,so I’ve got a few years to be able to show her that I can still play some footy,which will be pretty cool.”
Docherty was keen to lock in his future as soon as possible,but there remains major intrigue about what bothDe Koning – one of the game’s most promising ruck-forwards — andMitch McGovern will decide in their own contract year.
“The funny thing with these negotiations is everyone’s in a different mindset,so you’ve just got to respect guys with whatever their process is,” he said. “Whatever Tom does,whenever it is,whatever he does – it’s completely up to him.
“He knows what we’ve got here and what we’ve been building[but] you’ve got to just let the process play out. You don’t know what conversations are being had behind closed doors.