PORT ADELAIDE has signed second-year players Dougal Howard and Jesse Palmer to new contract extensions.
It will keep the forward line pair tied to the club until at least the end of the 2017 season.
After encouraging starts to their careers with Port Adelaide last year, Palmer and Howard will enter the 2016 season fully fit.
Howard battled injury in the first part of 2015, but played the second half of the year as a flexible tall capable of playing in defence and rucking as well as his intended forward position.
Palmer was one of the Magpies’ most consistent in 2015, having kicked goals in all of Port’s matches for the first half of the season and later being a ‘held-over’ emergency for the Power – a testament to form that saw him push towards the club’s best 22.
Power coach Ken Hinkley says the pair have steadily improved their football over the course of their debut year at Alberton.
"Dougal and Jesse have both shown promise in their first season at the club, and we're really comfortable with their performance," Hinkley told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"Jesse gave us a bit at SANFL level and played most of the season, had an impact up forward and gave himself a good base to launch himself from for this year.
"'Dougs' battled a stress fracture in the first half of the season, but he gave us something for the rest of the year, played in a couple of positions and has worked really hard on the track this summer."
Howard played 12 SANFL games and kicked six goals after returning from injury last year while Palmer played in 19 games and kicked 18 goals as Port Adelaide's third-highest goal kicker.
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