Reigning best and fairest winner Matt Seiter, co-captain Jackson Russell and key position player McKye Turner have penned three-year deals to remain with the Bulldogs in a huge show of faith to the club, which recently extended coach Dean Harding’s contract until the end of 2017.

The Bulldogs have shown strong improvement in the second half of this season and Harding said the commitment from Seiter, Russell and Turner provided the perfect launching pad to break into the top five next year.

In a further boost to the Bulldogs, Tom Johnson, Josh Hicks, Damien Jones, Harry McKimmie, Harry Pole, Joel Heiner, George Haynes, Dylan Beattie, Zak Collins, Louie Miller, Dan Wortmann, Tom Bowring and Aaron Proctor have all re-signed for next season.

“We are rapt to have so many of our boys already commit to next season,” Harding said.

“In ‘Chief’ (Turner), we see a future long term leader of our footy club. He is held in high regard by all the players and staff and we can’t wait to continue assist him be the best player and leader he can be.

“In ‘Porky’ (Russell) and ‘Goof’ (Seiter), we have two strong leaders who are really clear in our club’s direction. They are massive supports to myself and the coaching staff and are loyal and proud of their footy club.

“Retention of the current list was always the main priority and that will be complemented by the progression of kids from the thirds group.

“Kids like Ollie Greenhill, Harry Jones, Hamish Hallahan, Cooper and Hudson Garoni, Jayse Brown, Nath Ford, Jedd Glass, Connor Brodie, Charlie King, Casey Marr and Leigh Marshall will give us a deep, strong list to help with our continued improvement.”

The Bulldogs have been one of the form teams of the competition in the past two months, with their only losses coming to Yarrawonga and Albury.

They are set to just fall short of finals action this season but could finish with as many as nine wins and Harding said he was excited about what next year held.

“It was a no-brainer to go around again with most of the guys recommitting and the great kids we have coming through,” he said.

“The support I have in the footy department is huge and we will all keep working as hard as we can to keep improving the place.”

The Dogs have had a series of functions throughout the season to mark 80 years in the O and M, which will culminate with a celebration in the clubrooms after their final home game against Wangaratta on August 20.