MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 02: Rhys Stanley of the Cats (L) and Braydon Preuss of the Kangaroos compete for the ball during the round two AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on April 2, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

North Melbourne ruckman Braydon Preuss is staying put at Arden St, signing a two-year contract extension to remain a Kangaroo.

Preuss, 22, will stay at North Melbourne until at least 2020 after having a breakthrough 2017 season.

The 206cm rugby league convert debuted in round one and went on to play eight games across the year.

“I’m bloody excited, it’s really good to get it done,” Preuss told nmfc.com.au.

“We’ve got heaps of young guys coming through and everyone here obviously wants to stay because we’re all re-signing, so the players obviously know there is something big happening.”

North Melbourne GM of Football Cameron Joyce is confident that Preuss will continue to improve as an AFL ruckman.

“One of our strengths will be the depth of our ruck division and the further development of players like Braydon," Joyce told the club's website.

“He moves extremely well for someone of his size, he’s got a great pair of hands and can take a really strong mark, and to think he only started playing football at 17.”

Preuss's name was brought up regularly during the trade period, but the Queenslander said he never considered leaving.

“It was just trade period talk,” Preuss said.

“People start rumours from nothing but I was contracted for next year and it never crossed my mind and the club knew that.”

Despite many critics believing there isn't space for both Preuss and Goldstein in the senior side, Preuss sees it as an advantage for the club.

"We can't afford to have any slack days with our training or playing because if one of us drops off form-wise, there's another bloke ready to play and take the spot," Preuss said.

"We all have different strengths, we're all completely different players, so it's good for us and the club."

Preuss was taken with pick 15 in the 2014 rookie draft and averaged 23 hit-outs and 9 touches per game in 2017.