Richmond youngster Trent Cotchin has signed a new three-year deal that will tie him to Punt Road until the end of 2013.
The contract extension keeps the 19-year-old from the clutches of the new Gold Coast club which was understood to be keen to have him on board for its inaugural season next year.
"I am very, very happy that I am going to stay here," Cotchin told the club's official website.
"One of the things you want to be as an AFL footballer is a one-club player."
"Another factor for me was seeing how much support the club has outside, from members as well as from people inside the club."
"I'm really confident we've got the right people in place to eventually achieve sustained success, and that's what we're working towards at the moment."
Cotchin said he was pleased to put the record straight on speculation that he may have signed a secret agreement to join the new Gold Coast club in 2011.
"I was disappointed that some people would actually think that I would do that behind the club's back," he said.
"My plan always, was to be with Richmond and stay with the club."
"It was just a matter of time until I signed."
Cotchin has played 25 senior matches after being acquired with the second pick overall at the 2007 AFL national draft.
Hampered by an Achilles injury throughout his first couple of seasons in the AFL, Cotchin has benefited from a modified training regime this pre-season.
"The conditioning staff has been terrific in managing my program and making sure that I got through the pre-season unscathed," Cotchin said.
"I've been running pretty well and I'm feeling pretty fit so I'm just looking forward to getting the next couple of games under my belt and then, hopefully, hitting Round 1 full of steam."