WHILE there was relief at Princes Park on Thursday with the announcement of gun forward Brendan Fevola's services for the next three years, there was also the claim it was always going to happen.

Fevola was flanked by coach Brett Ratten and interim president Stephen Kernahan at the media conference, and Ratten – who had issued a thinly-veiled warning to his star on radio when negotiations were dragging a couple of weeks ago – said he was always sure the 27-year-old would sign.

"No, I wasn't (concerned) – I always thought it'd be great for Brendan to finish his career at Carlton," he said.

"He's a Carlton person through and through, so to have him there as our focal point in the front half, and what he's done so far this year, has been outstanding.

"It just shows – 75 goals, two behind (Hawk Lance) Franklin, but it's just the things about the team aspect that really please me, and when he's up chasing and that, there's no better forward in the competition.

"We see that, and that shows through to the young people. Now he'll be one of the veterans of the team, so all these young kids can get under his wing and he can guide them for the next three years."

Ratten said the show of faith could be the event that encourages others to re-sign.

"I think it'll give the boys a little bit of confidence there, and just the end of the speculation that someone might leave," he said.

"I don't think Brendan was going anywhere, but there is always that percentage when someone hasn't signed that they might go, and now I think it gives maybe some of the other boys that are close to deals to maybe sign on the dotted line as well.

"I think it's fantastic news for us. We got confidence last week, and this gives us a little bit more confidence this week."

Youngsters Shaun Grigg and Mark Austin also signed new contracts on Thursday, tying them to the Blues until the end of 2010.