4:16:57 PM Thu 21 July, 2005
Matt Burgan
Sportal for afl.com.au
Outstanding young Kangaroos midfielder Daniel Wells has signed a new three-year deal and will remain with the club until at least the end of the 2008 season.
Wells, 20, said he had no intention of moving from Arden St, adding that he had 'definitely' settled into the city of Melbourne and that he had no thought of returning to Western Australia at this stage of his life.
"The boys that I've met here and the blokes that I've played with I've said this before, but I don't think you could find this at another club - so I don't want to lose it and I'm very happy where I am at the moment," Wells said at Arden St on Thursday.
"I came to terms pretty quickly (with) the club, (manager) Liam (Pickering) and myself, and it was a pretty easy and quick decision.
"It's great that the club has shown great faith in me, signing me up during
the season, so I'm very happy with the decision and can't wait to start the next three years with them and continue it on."
Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley said keeping Wells at the club was a high priority.
"I think going forward, it's great. Players of Daniel's talent and ability don't come along all that often and I think the way he's conducted himself and represented his family and the footy club has been an absolute treat," Laidley said.
"If we can continue his development in those areas as well as his football development, it'll only stand this football club in great stead."
"We want to keep all of our good players that we're developing and some of our older leader guys as well, so we need to make sure we tie them up to keep the other clubs' hands off them."
Wells, who has played 55 matches since making his AFL debut in 2003, is one of the most exciting young players in the competition.
Drafted from Peel Thunder with the club's second choice in the 2002 NAB AFL Draft, Wells was a 2003 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee and represented Australia in the same year.
Matt Burgan
Sportal for afl.com.au
Outstanding young Kangaroos midfielder Daniel Wells has signed a new three-year deal and will remain with the club until at least the end of the 2008 season.
Wells, 20, said he had no intention of moving from Arden St, adding that he had 'definitely' settled into the city of Melbourne and that he had no thought of returning to Western Australia at this stage of his life.
"The boys that I've met here and the blokes that I've played with I've said this before, but I don't think you could find this at another club - so I don't want to lose it and I'm very happy where I am at the moment," Wells said at Arden St on Thursday.
"I came to terms pretty quickly (with) the club, (manager) Liam (Pickering) and myself, and it was a pretty easy and quick decision.
"It's great that the club has shown great faith in me, signing me up during
the season, so I'm very happy with the decision and can't wait to start the next three years with them and continue it on."
Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley said keeping Wells at the club was a high priority.
"I think going forward, it's great. Players of Daniel's talent and ability don't come along all that often and I think the way he's conducted himself and represented his family and the footy club has been an absolute treat," Laidley said.
"If we can continue his development in those areas as well as his football development, it'll only stand this football club in great stead."
"We want to keep all of our good players that we're developing and some of our older leader guys as well, so we need to make sure we tie them up to keep the other clubs' hands off them."
Wells, who has played 55 matches since making his AFL debut in 2003, is one of the most exciting young players in the competition.
Drafted from Peel Thunder with the club's second choice in the 2002 NAB AFL Draft, Wells was a 2003 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee and represented Australia in the same year.
