The Gold Coast SUNS are pleased to announce the re-signing of Michael Rischitelli and Luke Russell.

List & Strategy Manager, Scott Clayton, said the club was delighted to re-sign the pair.

“We are thrilled that Michael & Luke have joined the ever growing list of players who are committed to establishing success on the Gold Coast,” Clayton said.

Rischitelli, 28, has played 178 AFL games; he played 21 matches in 2014, overcoming persistent hamstring tendonitis which restricted him to ten games in 2013.

Crowned the GC SUNS most professional player at the Club Champion awards night earlier in the month, Rischitelli is one of the most respected players at the SUNS.

The GC SUNS vice-captain said he was rapt to continue his career on the Gold Coast.

“I’m pleased to extend my contract as I’m really excited about the future and where the club is heading.

“We have a unique team, we know we still have plenty of improvement and hard work ahead of us and hopefully we’ll reap the benefits of that in the coming years,” Rischitelli said.

Luke Russell, 22, was one of twelve 17-year-olds to join the GC SUNS during the club's establishment phase and has played 56 games in his first four AFL seasons.

Russell generates great run and speed for the GC SUNS and has demonstrated he is consistently brave enough to take the game on.

“I’m rapt to have re-signed, the club has been really good to me and I plan to repay them in the future.

“I definitely feel as though we are on our way to building something pretty special. We are all pretty close and are maturing together… and we are committed to delivering success to the GC SUNS,” Russell said.