Emerging star Kade Kolodjashnij got back on the tools last Monday, picking up where he left off in September with a blistering 2km to begin the pre-season on a strong note.
 
With the start of another summer, Kolodjashnij closed a successful 2015 chapter, and is now looking ahead to a summer sharpening his tools under the new high performance regime.
 
The new regime, led by renowned high performance mentor, Justin Cordy, has resulted in a more customised strength and conditioning curriculum, with Cordy and co focusing methodically on the needs of each individual on Gold Coast’s list.
 
In the space of less than two weeks, Kolodjashnij admits he has already noticed a significant difference in the attention to detail of each individual’s program, with the Tasmanian set to spend the pre season focusing on enhancing his strength and power.
 
“It’s more individualised this year the program. Everyone’s got their specific needs, so mine’s to put on a bit more strength and size in the gym and improve my power. It’s really good in that aspect that we’ve all got individual programs,” Kolodjashnij told SUNS TV on Thursday afternoon.
 
“I’d like to improve my strength and power so I can play on smaller and taller opponents. I’m really looking to do that this pre-season. I’ve sat down with Justin Cordy and set out some goals for the pre season, hopefully it pays off and I play some good footy next year.
 
“They’ve been really good, they’re really going to help us in the future and in this pre-season, giving us a good fitness base and getting our strength up for next season and for the years beyond.”
 
Kolodjashnij was a paradigm of consistency in 2015 – his second season - playing in all 22 games, and polling in 16 of them in the best and fairest count to become a vital cog in Rodney Eade’s evolving back six.
 
Despite previously alluding to a future further up the ground, the 20-year-old says his current focus is still on playing across half back, a position he looked at home at last season.
 
“I was pretty comfortable down back in 2015, playing half back, so I probably see myself playing half back at the moment,” Kolodjashnij said.
 
“I’m really open to trying new positions, but at the moment I’ll probably train with the backs this pre-season and continue to learn and improve at half back.”