Promising tall forward Justin Westhoff has signed a new three-year deal with the Power, which will keep the 21-year-old at the club until at least the end of 2011.

Westhoff made his debut in Round 10, 2007 against Hawthorn and has played in all 23 games since, kicking 38 goals.

The 2007 NAB Rising Star nominee was drafted from Central District at No. 71 in the Power’s bumper 2006 NAB AFL Draft, which also yielded Travis Boak, Robbie Gray, Paul Stewart, Nathan Krakouer and David Rodan.

Power General Manager – Football Operations Peter Rohde said it was great to secure the services of the mobile forward.

“We’re delighted he’s signed a new deal,” Rohde said. “We see him as an important part of our future and hopefully we can build our forward line around him long-term.

“He’s had a outstanding first year and a half at the club and we just want to see him continue to improve and develop.

“It was great to get the interstate guys in Krakouer, Boak and Gray to commit to deals earlier this year, but it’s also very important to get the local boys to commit as well. We see that core group of younger guys as being very important going forward.”

Westhoff said he was pleased to be staying at the Power with younger brother Matthew, who was drafted last year.

“I’m really happy to have signed a new contract to stay here in South Australia with the Power,” Westhoff said.

“The club has a very bright future with some great young players coming through the ranks, so it’s exciting to be a part of this young and developing list,

“It’s a great learning environment here at the club. Choco’s a great teacher, he keeps everyone motivated and it’s also good to have the development coaches – Daniel Healy and Darren Trevena – around to help out all the young guys.”

Westhoff won the club’s Best First Year Player award and the Gavin Wanganeen Medal as the club’s best U21 player last year. He finished fourth in the NAB Rising Star award.

Westhoff, who grew up in Tanunda in the Barossa Valley, officially announced his new contract at the Power’s first Northern Family Day at Salisbury Oval this afternoon.