Russell, 23 and a 78-game player now into his sixth season with the Blues, is in career-best form since his drafting to Carlton from West Adelaide in the first round of the 2004 National Draft (selection nine overall).
“I’m absolutely stoked to be given the chance to extend my career at Carlton. I want to be a one-club player, so it’s great to be locked in for another two years,” Russell said.
“The club has shown a lot of faith in me, and I want to repay that faith and be part of group of young players who are coming through together and are hell-bent on making the most of our opportunities.”
Robinson, secured with the club’s third round selection (No.40 overall) in the 2008 AFL draft, is just 14 matches into his senior career - which is why the 20 year-old Tassie Mariners recruit was grateful for the Blues’ investment in him.
“It’s a massive boost to my confidence, it’s like a huge weight has been lifted off my back,” Robinson said.
“I can now look forward to my footy, play my footy and not have to worry about my future beyond the end of the year.”
Robinson was grateful that contractual negotiations, which had commenced at the conclusion of this year’s NAB Cup, had been swiftly and efficiently handled.
“I just wanted to get the whole thing out of the way,” he said. “I didn’t want my name bandied about with the Gold Coast or whatever, and I always wanted to stay at Carlton.”
First to concede that he was still pinching his cheeks in respect of being recruited to Carlton, the effervescent Robinson now sought to repay the club’s faith in him at Visy Park.
As he said: “I’m pretty lucky - one year in and I’m here in these massive facilities, with the Wallabies and the Socceroos coming through . . . and I’m also settled - that’s the main thing”.
Carlton General Manager Football Operations Steven Icke said that both Russell and Robinson were deserving of their contract extensions.
“We see Mitch’s best football still ahead of him. We, like all Carlton fans, get excited by Mitch’s enthusiasm and aggression when he plays,” Icke said.
“Jordan’s been rewarded with a new two-year contract on the basis of his enormous improvement. Once again we see that the best is ahead for Jordan, and Brett Ratten’s faith in him has been justified with a contract extension.”
