Western Bulldogs youngster Bailey Dale has this week signed a contract extension that will keep him at VU Whitten Oval until at least the end of the 2019 season.

Dale is the latest in a long line of players to recommit to the Bulldogs this year, with the 21-year-old joining Jason Johannisen, Kieran Collins, Lewis Young, Patrick Lipinski, Clay Smith, Marcus Adams, Tim English, Bailey Williams and Fletcher Roberts to have put pen to paper on new deals.

Western Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said the Club was pleased to secure the Edithvale-Aspendale product into the future.

“We’ve seen Bailey take a real step forward this season, and it’s been terrific to see,” McCartney told westernbulldogs.com.au.

“We’ve always known that he’s an excellent user of the footy, he’s got clean, quick hands, and he certainly knows where the goals are.

“He’s still just 21 years old so we’d expect there to be plenty of improvement left in his game, and we look forward to watching him continue to develop over the next couple of seasons.”

Dale was taken with pick 45 in the 2014 NAB AFL National Draft and went on to debut in Round 7, 2015 against Fremantle.

The former Dandenong Stingray played 10 games in his first season at the kennel, and was a member of Footscray’s 2016 premiership side.

Dale has recorded career highs in disposals, contested possessions, goals, inside 50s and tackles in 2017 and has played 28 career games.