With poise and polish beyond his young years, Kade Kolodjashnij burst onto the scene in 2014, cementing a spot in the Gold Coast SUNS back six. The Tasmanian found a home on a half-back flank, playing 18 games in his debut season to earmark himself as a player of the future.
 
One game into his second season at Metricon Stadium, Kolodjashnij has already found himself given more responsibility than ever before. After beginning across half-back and starting the game strongly with seven first-quarter possessions, the 19-year-old spent time on a wing before playing a lock-down role on Melbourne playmaker Heritier Lumumba.
 
The former Collingwood premiership star finished the game with just 12 possessions to his name and next to no impact. In a game with minimal positives, Kolodjashnij’s ability to nullify a player of Lumumba’s quality was a massive plus.
 
“Definitely a lot of areas to improve on, but it was a great learning curve for me going on Lumumba,” Kolodjashnij told SUNS TV.
 
“He’s a quality player, and playing on him and learning how he plays and his running patterns, so it’s going to help my game in the long run for sure.”
 
Kolodjashnij was one of the club’s strongest performers on the training track throughout the summer months in Carrara, with his endurance running a standout.
 
With a second pre-season now under his belt and a full year of experience in the AFL, the Tasmanian feels more confident in his body and his ability to impact games heading into his second season.
 
“It was a great learning curve last year being able to play them 18 games. It’s definitely helped me, another pre-season under my belt now, so hopefully I can start the year well and continue that throughout the year,” he said.