Jonathon Patton has repaid Greater Western Sydney's patience during his injury-hit AFL career start by re-committing to the club for another three seasons.
The club's first draft pick at No.1 in 2011 has resisted the urge to seek a move to his home state of Victoria, adding to a multitude of Giants talent to re-sign.
Patton joins forward accomplice Jeremy Cameron in choosing to remain at the club at least until the end of the 2020 season, with stars Adam Tomlinson (2019) Callan Ward (2021), Tom Scully (2021) and Stephen Coniglio (2019) also re-committing long term.
Homesickness hasn't been a factor for the 198cm Patton, unlike departed forwards Tom Boyd and Cam McCarthy.
"I'm from Melbourne and I can't picture myself living back there, as much as I love my family and friends," Patton told reporters on Tuesday.
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"Sydney's my home now."
The 23-year-old is confident he has overcome a rocky start to his AFL career, undergoing two knee reconstructions amid doubts raised around his body's ability to hold up to AFL demands.
The tall forward regained fitness to play 23 games last year, kicking 38 goals in a career-best season and claims he's reached his best condition heading into this sixth year.
"The injuries I've had, when the Giants stuck with me through that tough time, I've always said that when my career got back on track, I'd definitely repay the faith. It was a no-brainer," he said.
"It's great I've had continuity in my body for two years now. It's something I haven't had since I was probably 17.
"I'm definitely a lot fitter this time around. I think last pre-season I just got through it, whereas this pre-season, I think I've really bought in and really tried to smash myself as much as I could."
Patton said while ready to move on from last year's "devastating" preliminary-finals loss to premiers the Western Bulldogs, the Giants weren't guaranteed to improve on 2016 despite flag favouritism.
"It's really nothing to us. There are 17 teams improving this year," he said.
"We're not guaranteed to even make the finals."
