EMERGING Gold Coast star Kade Kolodjashnij has signed a two-year contract extension with the Suns.

As revealed by AFL.com.au last week, the young defender is now tied to the club until at least the end of the 2018 season.

Since being taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, Kolodjashnij has quickly established himself as one the Suns' most important players.

The 20-year-old finished runner up to Tom Lynch in the club's best and fairest last year and said the club's change in culture was a big factor in his commitment.

"We’ve changed a lot in the short time that I’ve been at the club, and we are now clear in the direction we want to go," Kolodjashnij said.

"We want to become a club that is respected for delivering sustainable success on and off the field for the Gold Coast."

Gold Coast list and strategy manager Scott Clayton said the way Kolodjashnij backed up his brilliant first season with an even better showing in 2015 was highly impressive.

"We are rapt that he has re-committed to the club until the end of 2018," Clayton said.

"We made some major changes at the club late in 2015, which included tough calls on the player list, and in establishing a high performance unit under Justin Cordy that is getting the players fitter, stronger and confident in their own bodies and we have seen this make a difference when it comes to retaining players."

Kolodjashnij's signature comes one week after young tall forward Peter Wright also extended his stay at Metricon Stadium.

Kolodjashnij found a regular home in the Suns' backline last season and was one of only two players to play all 22 games.

Despite being tagged late in the year, the Tasmanian averaged 22 disposals a game and improved his efficiency to 75 per cent.