IT has been a tough year for Willem Drew but a show of faith by the Port Adelaide Football Club has him “absolutely pumped” for the future.

Drew on Tuesday signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to the club until the end of 2022.

Injuries prevented the 21-year-old having much of an impact until last season, when he made his AFL debut in Round 1 and held his spot for the opening eight games of the season.

He finished with ten games in a breakout year, before injuries struck again in the pre-season.

“Last year I got a lot of confidence out of that,” Drew told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“I got some games early and then played a game late in the year as well.

“This year I was looking to come in and have a big year but unfortunately, I had a few injuries and stuff like that, which interrupted my pre-season and the year but at the moment it is hard for us boys who aren’t playing in the AFL.

“We’ve got limited opportunities to play games, but Kenny’s been pretty big on us just going out there, when get the opportunity to make sure we perform and we never know, with the year that we’ve had, there’s opportunities for people.

“It has been hard but everyone is pretty positive.”

A contract extension is a huge show of faith in the highly rated midfielder, who can play on the inside or outside and reads the play well.

Taken with pick 33 in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft from the North Ballarat Rebels, Drew will now have another two years to cement himself in Port’s AFL side.

“I’m absolutely pumped,” he said of his contract extension.

“I’m really grateful that the club has given me another two years and I’m just pumped to be around the club for another two years.”

It has not been easy to break into the Port Adelaide side this season.

The club sits top of the AFL table and has lost just three times in 2020.

Drew has been close to selection on numerous occasions since returning to training after early-season foot surgery.

And while there is no SANFL to push his claims, the Koirot premiership player will be ready if his opportunity arises.

“For me, I’m just going to chip away at my game, keep improving, keep getting better and working hard and hopefully rewards will come from that,” he explained.

“Everyone’s playing well – all the mids, all the backs, all the forwards so it’s just a matter of when we get an opportunity to play, if it’s a scratch match or training, just to make sure we’re putting our best foot forward and hopefully you can get your name put up there.”

Port on Tuesday also announced it had re-signed defenders Trent McKenzie and Jake Pasini.