In the end it was an easy decision for 23-year-old Jackson Macrae, recommitting to the Club that drafted him from the Oakleigh Chargers with the sixth pick overall in the  NAB AFL National Draft back in 2012.

Macrae wasn’t out of contract until the end of 2018, but has told SEN that he was keen to ‘get it all wrapped’ up ahead of time, which he did, signing a four year extension with the Club this week.

“The people at the Club,” he told SEN when asked what it was about the Bulldogs that saw him put pen to paper early.

“All the way from the top, the footy department, the staff, and obviously the players that I run out with each weekend, he says.

“I loved every minute of my time since I got drafted back in 2012.  Just the relationships I’ve managed to build, it’s been so special and I couldn’t think of playing anywhere else.”

The 2017 Gary Dempsey Medallist played every game last season and is set to play game 100 in Round one against the Giants in Sydney, but for Macrae, it’s less about personal milestones and more about ensuring the Dogs climb back up the ladder in 2018.

“After you win a premiership you’re not thinking about not making finals the next year, so it wouldn’t be an understatement to say it was disappointing, he said.

“But in saying that, the conversations we’ve had … leading into next year, the boys are really driven and hungry to correct last season and hopefully bring the boys back to where we know we can and that’s fighting for another premiership.

“I’m not back until Monday week but I’m really looking forward to getting started.’’

The Club’s first to fourth year players returned to the Club on November 9, with the rest of the list due to return on Monday, November 20.