Cunnington re-signs with North Melbourne until 2020

North Melbourne has locked away midfielder Ben Cunnington until the end of the 2020 season, keeping him away from next season's free agency market.

Cunnington, who was due to become a free agent at the end of next year, signed a three-year contract extension after several clubs were rumoured to be interested in prying the 24-yer-old away from Arden Street.

“It’s exciting, we were just going about the preseason as usual knowing that I had a contract for this year and next year, when the club approached me and my manager about a new deal,” Cunnington told the Herald Sun.

“It’s worked out really good for me. I never wanted to leave, and now I won’t have to deal with all that free agency stuff and all the media and speculation that goes with it.

“You look at the guys who signed up last year, ‘Ziebs’ (Jack Ziebell) and ‘Goldy’ (Todd Goldstein), and now I’ve done it. Hopefully, we can get a few young guys jumping on board as the club is going in a good direction.”

The 2014 best and fairest winner has played 123 games with the Roos since being selected with pick No.5 in the 2009 National Draft.