Melbourne defender Lynden Dunn and ruckman Jake Spencer sign contract extensions

MELBOURNE secured another key pillar in its climb up the AFL ladder with ruckman Jake Spencer joining Lynden Dunn in committing to the club.

Demons Training Lynden Dunn

MELBOURNE secured another key pillar in its climb up the AFL ladder with ruckman Jake Spencer joining Lynden Dunn in committing to the club.

The 24-year-old has signed a two-year deal and will remain at the Demons until at least the end of the 2016 season.

“Being out of contract, it was a good relief to know that the club wants to keep you,” Spencer told the club’s website.

The injury-plagued Spencer has played just 29 games since his debut in Round 1, 2009, and said he hopes to “repay” Melbourne’s faith by upping his form upon his return.

“Given my age, I haven’t achieved as much as I would’ve liked to in the time I’ve had at the club,” he said.

“I’m really, really happy and really excited to be staying at Melbourne.”

Spencer is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and is not expected to play for the next 4-6 weeks.

Melbourne's Jake Spencer and Greater Western Sydney's Shane Mumford contest during GWS Giants v Melbourne Demons at Spotless Stadium. pic. Phil Hillyard

The signing comes after Melbourne yesterday secured defender Lynden Dunn for the next three years.

Dunn, formerly a free agent, said he wanted to remain a Demon for life and didn’t look elsewhere for permanent deals.

“I love the club, the boys, where the club’s going and where we’ve come from,” Dunn said.

The versatile 27-year-old has been instrumental to the club’s change in fortunes this season and has blossomed under the guidance of Paul Roos.

After played a number of roles since making his debut in Round 6, 2006, but has been settled as a permanent defender this season.

Dunn kept Coleman medal candidate Jay Schulz to two goals in the narrow loss to Port Adelaide and outpointed the Power forward in a number of one-on-one duels.

“I’ve been thrown around a bit early in my career and I feel that’s helped me become the player that I am,” he said.

“I’m loving it down back and it’s nice to have a position.”

Dunn said he thrived on the opportunity to mentor younger players after being appointed to the club’s leadership group early this season.

“I’ve had to work pretty hard on my leadership and I probably thought I was a natural leader when I was younger,” he said.

“I love the fact that the younger players look up to me now, as an older player and a more experienced player.”

Dunn said he was itching to face Collingwood in the Queen’s Birthday match on Monday.

“The boys have been playing some pretty good footy — I’m really excited for Monday and I can’t wait to face up against the Pies,” he said.

Originally published as Melbourne defender Lynden Dunn and ruckman Jake Spencer sign contract extensions