Adelaide has secured the futures of two of the Club’s most promising young players, with Jared Petrenko and Brodie Smith both agreeing to contract extensions.

Selected by the Crows with pick No.25 in the 2008 Rookie Draft, Petrenko made his AFL debut against Collingwood in round one, 2009.

The 22-year-old former Woodville-West Torrens junior had an injury-interrupted start to his time at West Lakes, but enjoyed a breakout season in 2011 playing 15 games for a career total of 36 and providing a spark as both a small forward and pinch-hitting onballer.

Quick and fierce tackling, Petrenko hopes to spend more time in the midfield this season and has been recognised for his leadership potential, being included in the Club’s six-man ‘emerging leaders’ group.

Smith, 20, made an immediate impact in his first season at West Lakes in 2011.

South Australia’s most valuable player at the Under-18 Championships in 2010, Smith was snapped up by the Crows with their first pick (No.14 overall) at the national draft in the same year.

The composed and line-breaking wingman, also from the Eagles in the SANFL, made his AFL debut against Hawthorn in round one last season, going on to play a total of 14 matches in his debut year.

Smith added 3kg of muscle mass in his second pre-season at West Lakes and impressed throughout Adelaide’s successful NAB Cup campaign.

General Manager Football Operations Phil Harper said the Club was pleased to have re-signed the exciting pair before their existing contracts expired at the end of the season.

“We have a good, core group of young players, who we believe will take the Club forward, and Jared and Brodie are a big part of that,” Harper said.

“As a team, we’ve made a positive start to the year and Jared and Brodie have both showed signs they are ready to have strong seasons.”

Adelaide takes on the Western Bulldogs in the Club’s first home match of 2012 next Saturday night.  Click here to buy tickets.