Josh Kelly is keeping them waiting but AFL premiership favourites GWS Giants now have most of their major stars locked up on long-term contracts.
Pacy midfielder Dylan Sheil, who surely would have been one of the most coveted Giants coming off contract, signed a two-year extension on Monday,
At the start of 2017, Shiel, midfielder Kelly and key forward Jon Patton were among the most highly regarded Giants coming off-contract at the end of this season.
However, Patton and Shiel are now off limits to rival clubs, with rising defenders Zac Williams and Adam Tomlinson also signing contract extensions this year.
Kelly and veteran forward Steve Johnson, who is likely to retire at the end of this season, are the only players who finished in the top ten of the Giants 2016 best and fairest yet to commit to the club beyond this year.
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Outside that group, skilful small forward Devon Smith, Kelly and emerging midfielder Jacob Hopper remain unsigned for next season.
North Melbourne are reportedly preparing a nine-year $9 million offer to try and lure Kelly home to Victoria.
Monday was however a mixed day for the Giants, especially their midfielders.
Their happiness at keeping Shiel in the fold was tempered by ankle injuries to veteran Ryan Griffen and 2016 No.5 draft pick Will Setterfield.
Both men could be out for up to ten weeks with a syndesmosis problem, the same issue that has sidelined fellow midfielder Stephen Coniglio.
They join two other midfielders, Brett Deledio and Tendai Mzungu, on the injury list, though Matt de Boer is poised to supplement that depleted area after recovering from a hamstring injury.
