If you were looking for an example of consistency at the Gold Coast SUNS, look no further than Kade Kolodjashnij. The polished half back flanker was rewarded for his stunning second year in the AFL with a runner-up placing in Friday night’s Club Champion, finishing just two votes behind winner Tom Lynch.
 
Kolodjashnij polled in more games than any other player, earning votes in 16 of 22 appearances (Lynch polled in 13 games) to emphasise his even contribution across the entire season.
 
The 20-year-old grew in confidence as the year wore on, developing into Rodney Eade’s quarterback to become Gold Coast’s ball movement architect. Not only was he poised under pressure and took the game on, but his skill execution and bold decisions made him a key component in the SUNS arsenal.
 
Kolodjashnij was a picture of consistency in 2015, averaging 22.3 disposals per game at an efficiency rate of 75.1 per cent, to go with 4.5 rebound 50s and the most accumulated territory at the club with 7914 metres.
 
Humbled by his achievement, the Tasmanian paid tribute to the influence of new coach Eade on his development, as well as praising the impact defensive coach Dean Solomon has had on his confidence to back himself in, take the game on and hit his kicks.
 
“It’s a great honour to come runner-up. Tom Lynch obviously had a great year and congratulations to him. I’m stoked at the moment to come runner-up,” Kolodjashnij told SUNS TV following the count on Friday night.
 
“Rocket’s been great (for me) this year. I got off to a slow start, but I improved as the year went on.
 
“He’s been great this year Rocket, he really came in and provided a clear pathway. I really enjoy playing under him and I still know I’ve got a long way to go yet, so I’m really looking forward to the years to come.
 
“Full credit to 'Solly'. He’s been great this year Dean Solomon the defensive coach. He really gave me that confidence to just go out on the weekend and give it my best and really back myself in.
 
“As the year went on I became more confident and was able to stay injury free and play some pretty good footy.”
 
The injury toll at the SUNS this year was debilitating. It was so severe at one stage that Kolodjashnij - a player in just his second-year and a teenager at the time - was the most experienced player in the back six.
 
Almost overnight he was required to become a leader in an inexperienced backline. A responsibility he credited at different stages in the back half of this year as influential in his development.
 
Whilst the injuries were far from ideal, Kolodjashnij can see the huge benefits of exposing youth to senior football this year. The Tasmanian knows how damaging Gold Coast can be with their newfound depth and with a full complement of fit players at their disposal.
 
“Obviously it was pretty disappointing this year (with) all the injuries we had. But it’s going to be a very exciting future to be able to get all them players back in the back six as well as all the midfielders back,” Kolodjashnij said.
 
“I know we’ve got a lot of hard work to go but I’m really looking forward to the future.”