Carlton's club-breaking eight-year deal, handed to Sam Walsh, certainly raised eyebrows, but they had no choice.
The Blues have been yearning for stability, with speculation over the coach's future coupled with the departures of Tom De Koning, Charlie Curnow and Jack Silvagni, further pushing the club toward rocky waters.
A Walsh exit would've been catastrophic.
The former Pick 1 was touted as the core of the club's rebuild when it finished last in 2018. And seven years later, his signature is just as significant as his drafting.
Walsh's new contract will take him to the age of 34, and has alarm bells sounding given his long history with injury.
The new age of AFL football dictates that star players will be offered six-plus years, or be vulnerable to rival clubs.
Sometimes they don't work. Charlie Curnow at the Blues. Christian Petracca at Melbourne.
Curnow and Petracca expressed their long-term commitment to the club, but as it is becoming increasingly clear, words mean nothing.
Both stars found themselves venturing up the eastern seaboard in a bid for a fresh start.
"I love this Club. I am a Carlton person and I couldn't be happier to continue my career here," Walsh said.
"I am all in on the next eight years and doing everything I can to help us reach the top and stay there - the day we do will mean everything to me."
We have seen these words before, verbatim.
But does Walsh hold more gravity than the likes of Curnow and Petracca? Even with his injury history trouble, which hasn't seen him play a full season in four years.
Since he walked into Ikon Park, his leadership and professionalism have him touted as an AFL captain, and he is in line when Patrick Cripps hands over the captaincy.
Walsh will be the leader of a host of top draftees beginning their careers, like Jagga Smith and Harry Dean. This will extend to the multiple first-rounders to come as a result of the Curnow trade.
The contract decision will also keep the Blues away from the 'will he, won't he' limelight that permeated through the club when De Koning was making his decision.
On many levels, Walsh isn't a safe bet. But Carlton had no choice, fearing falling down a black hole they have desperately tried to get out of.
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