Kade Kolodjashnij fires in first game back in Gold Coast’s epic win over Sydney
KADE Kolodjashnij struggled to contain his emotions after playing a starring role in the Suns’ greatest win in what has been a challenging season for the laid-back defender.
Gold Coast
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KADE Kolodjashnij’s head is spinning, and for once that’s a good thing.
It was a hotly contested field after Gold Coast’s greatest win, over Sydney at the SCG on Saturday, but the prize for the happiest and most deserving Sun goes to Kolodjashnij.
It was the former No.5 draft pick’s first game back after a lengthy lay-off due to severe headaches.
He showed he is capable of returning to the blistering form he displayed in the early years of his career before a rotten run of luck saw him first struggle with a stomach issue, concussion and a neck problem.
Every Gold Coast player has been on a rollercoaster but few hurtled towards the depths like the talented left-footer.
This year he has battled the dual demons of puzzling headaches and being out of contract and unable to get on to the park to prove his worth.
Kolodjashnij is one of the more laid-back characters on the Suns’ list but he struggled to contain his emotions after playing a starring role in the 24-point win.
“It was unreal, it was like I was playing my first game,’’ he said.
“I was so excited just to be back out there with the boys and then to beat Sydney for the first time was an awesome feeling. It felt a little surreal after what has been a tough few years.’’
Kolodjashnij’s troubles began in 2016 when he struggled with a stomach illness for most of the season. He battled his way to 19 games but he was low on energy, couldn’t maintain his weight and was hospitalised three times.
With his gut problems behind him, he had great expectations for last year and just when it appeared he was returning to his best form, he was concussed in Round 13 and missed the final 10 games of the season.
“Concussion is not like a normal injury, it has an emotional effect as well,’’ he said.
“I was up and down, had mood swings, you are sitting around home and you feel really isolated a lot of the time and you can’t escape your feelings.’’
When he again won the club’s 2km time trial this pre-season, he finally thought his run of bad luck had ended.
Then, in Round 4, the headaches returned and he was out of the senior side for another 12 weeks.
However, there was another twist to the tale that ended up being a blessing.
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A return visit to the concussion specialist who treated him last year gave him the all-clear from any problems with his brain and revealed the headaches were caused by neck pain from whiplash.
A new program to strengthen the neck has put an end to the headaches and he has returned with a different view on the game.
“I’ve learned you can’t take anything for granted,” he said.
“For the first few years of my career I played some good footy and maybe I did take things for granted back then but I won’t ever again.
“This has given me a whole new perspective to make the most of every moment, to go to the club every day thankful and to enjoy the opportunity.’’
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Originally published as Kade Kolodjashnij fires in first game back in Gold Coast’s epic win over Sydney
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