Essendon Football Club today announced that Mark Mercuri has agreed terms on a new contract with the club. Mercuri now has a five-year-deal in place that will run until the end of season 2005 – effectively ensuring he will finish his career at Windy Hill.

Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said the finalising of Mercuri’s contract was a great boost for the club on the eve of the first game of the season. “Mark is a vice-captain of the club and good Essendon person. The whole club is pleased this deal has been completed,” Jackson said. “This obviously adds to what is always an exciting week but it is the club’s long-term on-field future that is most significant about a deal such as this. Everyone is well aware of the talents of Mark Mercuri. To think he will spend the remainder of his playing days at Windy Hill is something all Essendon supporters will be excited about.”

“Both Mark and his management have been very reasonable in their negotiations with the club. As with other senior players, he has put a high price on team success over the next few years and this was a significant factor in our negotiations. There has been some uninformed speculation as to what Mark was going to earn – the reported figures were inaccurate. “

The signing of Mercuri comes on top of the new contracts recently signed by Dustin Fletcher, Mark Johnson and Paul Barnard.