One of the first players to cross the finishing line, Kade Kolodjashnij showed his new Gold Coast teammates he’ll be one to watch over the summer.
Just days after impressing coaching and development staff with his 2km time trial, the Tasmanian newcomer turned in an even more impressive performance at Monday’s conditioning session, providing serious competition to endurance specialists Jeremy Taylor and Dion Prestia.
Finding a balanced rhythm from the start, Kolodjashnij helped set the pace for the entire playing list, displaying great mental fortitude at the front of the pack.
Unfortunately, fatigue hindered him on the final leg of the time trial, giving Taylor and Prestia a much-needed edge as the senior players put the pedal to the metal 300m from the finish line and time keeper Max Kennedy.
As has already been the case so far this pre-season, the Gold Coasters provided a thrilling finish for the club’s high performance team, Taylor stepping across the line just a second in front before his housemate, Prestia followed by Kolodjashnij.
Midfielders Jaeger O’Meara and David Swallow repeated their 2km efforts prior to the club’s departure to Arizona, finishing 4th and 5th respectively.
Jack Hutchins left it all out on the training field, the former dreadlocked warrior hunched over and gasping for air after pushing himself to breaking point.
Moving forward in a positive direction, new recruit Jack Leslie improved on his previous best, shaving significant time from last week’s 2km results.
While the boys were given a solid warm-down, there was no time to rest for the senior squad, with Head of Development Andy Lovell quickly coordinating the players into different skills circuits.
Separated into three different areas of the Metricon Stadium training surface, one player group were led through a handballing exercise designed to test the players’ ability to react under pressure, while another group simulated the test by foot.
