In just two seasons at the highest level, Gold Coast SUNS rebounding defender Kade Kolodjashnij has demonstrated why the club selected him with pick No. 5 in the 2013 national draft.

The Tasmanian followed up an impressive debut season with an even better second year. Kolodjashnij played all 22 games under Rodney Eade and was a paragon of consistency, finishing runner-up in the Club Champion behind Tom Lynch in a stunning performance by a 20-year-old.

In less than two years inside Metricon Stadium, Kolodjashnij has already gone a long way to justifying why Gold Coast spent such a high price to secure his services.

And with 40 games already under his belt, and an exciting synergy with fellow defenders Steven May, Adam Saad and Nick Malceski, the Launceston product has built a strong foundation for a long and prosperous career.

Whilst he hasn’t quite matched the exploits of Kolodjashnij just yet, Sean Lemmens’ development in his first two years at Gold Coast has been impressive.

The South Australian product has played 18 games in each of his first two seasons, earning invaluable exposure to the game at the highest level which should help him lift his game to another level in the coming years.

After playing the final two games of the 2014 season, key defender Jack Leslie added three more senior appearances in the first half of last season before injury ended his year shortly after the bye.

Leslie has been given time to develop as a full back in the NEAFL and given the strength of the SUNS defensive key posts, has struggled for opportunities at senior level thus far.

2013 National Draft:

5. Kade Kolodjashnij
20. Jack Leslie
27. Sean Lemmens

2014 Rookie Draft:

4. Louis Herbert
63. Jarred Ellis