BEN PATON has signed a two-year contract extension with St Kilda.
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The former Mitta United and Murray Bushrangers player was one of the finds of the season for the Saints playing in a back pocket.
He shut down some of the game's best small forwards including Tom Papley, Charlie Cameron and Eddie Betts.
Paton, who was taken with pick No. 46 in the 2017 draft, played every match this season.
Head of list management James Gallagher said Paton had a big future at the club.
"We're rapt to have Ben commit to the future of our club," Gallagher said.
"'Pato's' one of a number of young guys we can see leading this footy club forward over the next 10 years along with the likes of Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield."
Paton, 21, has played 35 matches for St Kilda.
St Kilda was one of the AFL's big improvers under Brett Ratten this season with former Albury player Dougal Howard also playing well in defence.
