KEY defender Alipate Carlile has re-signed with the Power for two years, extending his contract out to the end of 2011.

Carlile, 22, has played 39 games with Port Adelaide since debuting in 2006, including all 22 matches last season, when he finished fifth in Port Adelaide’s best and fairest award and won a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

Known around the club as “Bobby”, Carlile has made the full-back position his own since the retirement of Darryl Wakelin at the end of 2007.

Carlile was drafted with pick 44 in the 2005 National Draft, from the Murray Bushrangers in Victoria’s TAC Cup.

Port Adelaide’s General Manager of Football Operations Peter Rohde says the club is pleased to have re-secured Carlile’s signature.

“Quality key defenders are a vital part of any successful club and in our view Alipate Carlile is one of the best young key defenders going around,” Rohde said.

“It’s easy to forget Bobby has just turned 22, as he plays with great maturity and authority. It is also a tribute to both our recruiting and development staff that Bobby has progressed as quickly as he has.

“He is a very important part of the young defensive unit we are building to be a cornerstone of our club for many years to come.”

Carlile says he’s happy to have signed on for a further two years.

“I am really happy with the direction of the club and the coaching staff, and I look forward to playing for many years with the young backline group we are building down here,” Carlile said.

“It’s a credit to the work of our development coaches Stuey Cochrane and Darren Trevena the way they have gone about getting us up to speed at AFL level.

“Those guys have played an enormous role in my development, and I can’t thank them enough.”