Gold Coast first-gamer Kade Kolodjashnij endured a baptism of fire in horrendous conditions at Patersons Stadium but the Tasmanian loved every minute of his AFL debut against Fremantle.

Tests don’t come much tougher than taking on the Dockers in the west, particularly in pouring rain, but Kolodjashnij showed touches of class in the back half of the field as he finished with 19 touches on a night hardly suited to attacking defenders.

“It was unbelievable just running out with the boys for the first time, the atmosphere,” Kolodjashnij said.

“I just learnt how brutal the game is; you’ve always got to be on the go and you get found out pretty easily if you’re not switched on.

“It was pretty tight up until three-quarter time. They got away that last quarter.  We just dropped off our intensity and effort, I guess.”

GC SUNS coach Guy McKenna reserved some post-match praise for the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft.

“He will probably play in more pressure games, but I think very few, very rare,” McKenna said.

“For him to hold up in his first game the way he did was a great result.”

After surviving his initial outing, Kolodjashnij now has to deal with the reality of a long trip back to Queensland before he prepares for a likely home debut in the Q Clash against Brisbane next Saturday.

The 19-year-old will have to nurse his body through the week after, not surprisingly, pulling up sore from his initial hit out.

“I’ve never cramped so bad in my life,” Kolodjashnij said.

“It’s a massive step up from under 18 footy, and that.  Just got to recover now for next week.”