David Mundy has bucked the trend of departures from Fremantle, resisting the overtures of Hawthorn to agree a new two year contract with the Dockers.
 
Along with Ryan Murphy, the club announced this morning that Mundy would be staying in Perth, after weeks of waiting for a decision - which had increased fears he would be following Robbie Warnock and returning to Victoria.
 
Chief executive officer Steve Rosich said the club was delighted that both players had re-signed with Fremantle.
 
"David and Ryan were first drafted to the club from Victoria in the 2003 National Draft," he said.
 
"It highlights the commitment both players have shown, not only to the club, but to their team-mates and Fremantle supporters.''
 
After evolving into a damaging midfielder this year, spending considerably more time through the middle and into and forward line than in past seasons, he had become one of the key contracts for Freo to try and wrap up.
 
Rosich said Mundy and his management had always indicated that he would wait until the end of the season before considering a contract extension.
 
"There has been a lot of unnecessary and unfounded speculation in the media about David's intentions," Rosich said.
 
"We have always been comfortable with David's decision to review his contract at season's end. Once David had resolved the terms and conditions of his contract it took only 24 hours to reach a final position with his management."
 
Since making his debut in Round 6, 2005, Mundy has not missed a game for the club.
 
His 22 appearances in season 2008 took his career games tally to 86 and he is poised to become just the third Victorian born player to reach the 100 game milestone for Fremantle behind James Walker (151 FFC games) and Heath Black (138 FFC games).
 
He was joined by Aaron Sandilands and Ryan Crowley as the only Fremantle players to appear in each of the club's 22 matches this season.
 
In yet another reliable season, he ended season 2008 in Fremantle's top five for kicks (209), handballs (164), marks (106) and tackles (63).
 
Mundy earned a Rising Star nomination in 2005 and went on to finish third overall in the Doig Medal voting at the end of that season. He also took out the club's Beacon Award that year for the best new talent and was selected in the Australian squad for the 2006 International Rules series in Ireland
 
Mundy said the influx of new young players at Fremantle via the upcoming national draft had influenced his decision to commit to the club for a further two years.
 
"I'm excited about the opportunities at the club in 2009 and beyond," he said.
 
"With the retirement of so many senior players there will be a lot of opportunity for guys such as Aaron Sandilands and myself to step-up into leadership roles."
 
Murphy made nine appearances for Fremantle in Season 2008 and his selection in the line-up heralded good fortune for the team, with the 23-year-old playing in five of Fremantle's six winning matches for the year.
 
When not in the Fremantle line-up, the reliable leading forward carried his ability to hit the scoreboard across to WAFL level for South Fremantle, kicking 45 goals in 10 matches for the Bulldogs at an accuracy above 73 per cent.
 
Murphy was taken with Fremantle's first selection in the 2003 National Draft (no. 12 overall) and made his debut in Round 16, 2004. He has since gone on to play 40 matches for the club, including Fremantle's historic first final win over Melbourne and its preliminary final against Sydney in 2006.  
Murphy said his decision to commit to the club for a further two years was also inspired by the prospect of Fremantle's young list.
 
"In terms of team goals and my personal goals there will be an opportunity to have a really good crack," he said.
 
"There are a lot of good signs at the club. Our level of competitiveness towards the end of the season when we won four out of last seven games gives me great confidence about what lays ahead for the club."