YOUNG midfielder George Horlin-Smith has committed to Geelong until at least the end of 2018.

While the Cats still have a long list of players, including Tom Hawkins and Steven Motlop, yet to ink new deals, the signature of the 22-year-old is a boost for their future.

The young South Australian has played 35 AFL games since his debut in round three of 2012 against North Melbourne.

Horlin-Smith started that game as the substitute and came on for the third quarter after Andrew Mackie went off injured shortly before half-time.

He snared a goal with his first kick after being set up by Steve Johnson.

"We believe that George is an outstanding young man," football manager Steve Hocking told the club's website.

"We rate his leadership ability extremely highly and we’re delighted to have signed him for three years."

A talented sportsman, Horlin-Smith chose football over cricket despite achieving national selection and captaining the under 16 team in 2008.

He's played three senior games this season after 21 last year, and has been quiet in all of them, starting as the substitute in round five against Richmond.

He went back to the VFL on the weekend and had 26 touches and kicked a goal to be one of Geelong's best players in the team's loss to Collingwood in Bendigo.