George Horlin-Smith could have been a Test cricketer.

Ten years ago he was co-captain of the Australian Under 16 side that toured the West Indies and was a player of enormous potential.

Instead he chose football. And now, after eight years at Geelong, he’s chosen the Gold Coast SUNS.

If we were being flippant we’d say he’d chosen to follow the old political adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”. 

Why? Because in an industry in which there are statistics for almost anything, Horlin-Smith is the No.1 ticket-holder in a small group of players who have found the SUNS a bogey side.

Among 619 players who played in the 2018 AFL season, he is one of only four who have played against the SUNS, and played at Metricon Stadium, had never won in either. 

He’s beaten every other side in the competition but not the SUNS.

It’s not exactly a big sample size. In eight years and 51 games in the AFL he’s played only once against the SUNS for an 0-1 record. Like his ex-Geelong teammate James Parsons, and Hawthorn pair Teia Miles and Jono O’Rourke.

But it might explain why Horlin-Smith can sneak into Metricon when training starts before Christmas and have a lot of SUNS fans saying “who is that?”

Especially when you understand that his only appearance at Metricon was on a day when SUNS fans barely had time or interest to even contemplate the opposition.

It was Round 7, 2017 when the SUNS had one of their great victories. Arguably, even, their very best victory. They led at every change against a Geelong side third on the ladder at the time and the highest-placed ‘kill’ among the club’s 44 wins.

Horlin-Smith, 24 and playing his 45^th AFL game, had 16 possessions, four tackles and four clearances in what was Brad Scheer’s debut for the SUNS. 

He played only six more games in the blue and white hoops - Round 8 and Round 14 last year, and Rounds 5-6-8-9 this year – and accepted an invitation from the SUNS when it became evident his opportunities at the Cattery moving forward would be limited.

Perhaps his profile in the 2016 AFL Guide said it best: “Caught in the twilight zone of being too good in the VFL but failing to cement a spot in the AFL’.

If football was a 25-man game he would have played not 51 games but 84. He was an emergency 33 times, including eight times in 2012 and 2016, and seven times in 2015, but only four times in the last two years.

In early years the AFL Guide described him as “a rangy midfielder with poise and courage” and “respected and popular”, and noted that in 2017 he was in career-best form until a serious ankle/Achilles injury ended his campaign.

Significantly, in what turned out to be his last year at Geelong he awarded the ‘best clubman’ award.

And when it came time for the Cats to confirm his departure there was none of the customary and cursory ‘thanks for your service’ in the club statement.

Instead, it said: “George has been a highly respected member of our club for eight years, on and off the field,” Geelong’s General Manager of Football Simon Lloyd said.

“The strength of character George has demonstrated over this time at Geelong is a testament to him and the club wishes him well at the Gold Coast.”

It was genuine and heart-felt, and there is no doubt the SUNS are getting someone of enormous character to play under Stuart Dew in 2019.

Horlin-Smith will bring with him a mountain of experience.

Born in Adelaide, he attended the prestigious Pembroke School, which counts among it’s alumni such celebrities as world-acclaimed singer Kamahl, Kelly Preston (actress and wife of John Travolta), Basil Sellers AM (whose name adorns the front door of the offices of the Sydney Swans), Natasha Stott-Despoia (former leader of the Australian Democrats) , former Test cricketer Tom Moody, tennis coach Roger Rasheed, swimming superstars Sophie Edington and Matt Welsh, Olympic equestrian gold medallist Wendy Schaefer, media identity. Ex-North Melbourne president James Brayshaw and ex-Melbourne AFL captain turned list manager Todd Viney are at the head of a long list of AFL identities. 

He played district cricket in Adelaide as a teenager and was ear-marked for higher honours until he chose football after a standout final year at school and some promise with SANFL club Sturt.

He was claimed by Geelong at #37 in the 2010 AFL National Draft three spots ahead of Sydney dual B&F winner Luke Parker. He was also preferred to Tom Liberatore, Tom McDonald, Jarryd Lyons, Paul Puopolo and Paul Seedsman, and inherited the #33 jumper from 2007-09 premiership player and former SUNS development coach Max Rooke. 

In his debut against North Melbourne at Docklands in Round 3 2012, Horlin-Smith kicked a beautiful running goal with his first kick, and later that year won the Norm Goss Medal as best afield in Geelong’s VFL grand final win.

In his 18^th game against Fremantle in Perth in 2014 he had a career-best 30 possessions.

On a year-by-year basis from 2012 he played 3-8-21-7-1-7-4 games, including two finals in 2014, and enjoyed 34 wins and a draw from his 51 games.