ANDERSON SIGNS FOR FOUR MORE SUNS YEARS

GOLD Coast star Noah Anderson says he was so determined to pledge his long-term future to the club he never considered signing a deal of less than four seasons.

Newscorp can reveal Anderson has added another four years to his contract, with a deal set to expire at the end of this season now locked in through to October 2027.

It takes the 21-year-old through to free agency in a major coup for the club’s stated mission of retaining its senior core of players.

Anderson could have named his price had he put off talks to year’s end but said he was not even interested in asking manager Paul Connors if there was rival interest.

“No, there was no conversation. I said I was happy here, let’s get the deal done,” he said.

Despite the departure of Izak Rankine to Adelaide, Anderson said the Suns had a core group who would not even consider returning home.

The Suns will finally be able to concentrate on their finals aspirations free of contract discussions with Ben King (2024), Jack Lukosius (2026) and Touk Miller (2027) among the club’s high-profile players to commit.

Matt Rowell signed on for two extra seasons in December, but it is Anderson who has quickly become the Suns’ best midfielder after Miller.

He finished second to captain Miller in the best-and-fairest in a season mixing centre square clearances, 549 possessions and 11 goals.

“It was a pretty easy decision for me. I have really enjoyed living up here, I am really close with the playing group and staff,” he said.

“It was only a matter of time when it rolled around and the finer details of the contract. I wanted to park it and end all speculation.”

On the length of the extension, Anderson said there was no reason to sign a shorter deal.

“I feel like in two years I would be having exactly the same conversation. I might as well be here for four years. I want to play finals. We all want to play finals,” he said.

Anderson said the players were “disappointed” in Rankine’s decision but threw up No.6 pick Bailey Humphrey, a powerful 185cm mid-forward, as a round 1 smokey.

“I think the playing group was a little disappointed to lose ‘Ranks’. We had a lot of people put a lot of time into him but it’s his decision and I hope he goes well. It opens a window for players sniffing around that spot. It’s exciting to see players like Mal Rosas and Joel Jeffrey step up.

“Bailey Humphrey looks really strong and mature. He looks like he could run there today as a first-year player. He is such a good kid.”

King is being held back but has taken part in some sessions at 75 per cent intensity off his ACL tear, while Anderson says Rowell has taken another step forward.

“He missed a lot of footy and was thrown back into the AFL system and needed time. He ran a really good 2km time trial recently,” he said.