Atley spoke over the phone on Tuesday from North's high-altitude training camp in Utah and said he had been in discussions with the Roos throughout this year about extending his contract.
"There's no rush because we've obviously got plenty of time to finalise things," said Atley, who signed a three-year contract after being taken by North with pick No.17 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
"But I'm very happy here and don't see myself anywhere else but North. If they put a contract in front of me, I'll be happy to sign it."
This is great news for North Melbourne given how important Atley has become to its defence in just his second season.
After playing 16 games primarily on the wing in his debut season, 2011, Atley played all of the Roos' 23 games this year and gave them the explosive, line-breaking run they had previously lacked from half-back.
Nonetheless, Atley said his lofty finish in North's best and fairest had come as a surprise.
"I just went there to have a good night," he said.
"I thought I might get a few votes but there was no way I expected to finish anywhere near fifth. I was very honoured.
"Personally, I have the coaches to thank for moving me to half-back at that start of the season.
"I felt really comfortable there as I'd played most of my junior footy at half-back and just being able to run and dash from there was good."
Atley acknowledged he'd had to work hard on the defensive side of his game to cut it as an AFL backman, but said he had relished the challenge of playing on forwards the calibre of St Kilda's Stephen Milne, Sydney Swan Lewis Jetta and Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne.
Atley said his development as a defender had been fast-tracked by the advice he received on body positioning from experienced North defenders Michael Firrito, Scott McMahon, Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima, and defensive coach Shane Watson.
