Sam Menegola has praised Geelong for showing faith in him and three of the club's other emerging talents.
Menegola, Brandan Parfitt, Nakia Cockatoo and James Parsons all signed new contracts with the Cats on Thursday.
Parfitt and Cockatoo are now tied to the club until the end of the 2019 season, while Menegola and Parsons are locked in until the end of Geelong's 2020 campaign.
"Really excited," Menegola said at Simonds Stadium on Friday morning. "And I think I can probably speak for Parf and Cocky and Parso as well.
"We all love playing footy at Geelong, so obviously to have that stability and know we're going to be doing it for at least a few more years is really exciting for us all.
"The support and the belief that the club has shown in us is as exciting as anything, really."
Menegola's journey in footy has been a winding affair, with the midfielder spending time at Hawthorn and Fremantle before making his AFL debut at Geelong in 2016.
Given how hard the 25-year-old has had to work to get his chance at the highest level, he is taking nothing for granted despite now having a reasonably long-term contract.
"There are bits of [being an AFL player] that still feel weird, and then there are bits that are slowly starting to feel normal," Menegola said.
"I'm enjoying it, which is the main thing.
"Probably most important thing is that I understand there is still a lot of work to be done and a lot of things I need to keep working on to make sure I stay in these sorts of position.
"Because I think I understand as well as anyone how quickly the AFL shifts and where it can move you if you're not ready for it."
Menegola is hoping to continue his run of solid form when he lines up for the Cats in Sunday's big game against the Dockers at Simonds Stadium.
Menegola was named on a half-forward flank when the team was announced on Thursday evening.