As Jake plies his trade all over Victoria with the Cats’ VFL side, twin brother Kade is flying high as one of the game’s genuine young stars.
Having played his way into second favouritism for the AFL Rising Star Award with a string of brilliant performances, including a classy display to help sink the Cats last week, the Gold Coast Sun has inadvertently added a layer of frustration to his brother’s already difficult football journey.
“It does annoy me how he’s playing games and I’m not but I also understand that I’m at a club that has a really strong backline so it’s hard for me to crack in,” Jake said.
“I’ve just got to understand the situation and my turn will come. What Kade’s success has done is motivate me because I just want to train hard, play well and put my hand up for a game.”
At 194cm Jake is 4cm taller than his brother and readying himself for the rigours of key position defence in a side stocked deep with Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan and Jared Rivers.
With Rivers as his mentor, and James Kelly as a sounding board, Jake says he has all basis covered when it comes to learning the craft.
Even the layer of sibling rivalry is covered with the presence of Troy Selwood in the football department. Senior coach Chris Scott is another well versed on the subject after coming through with twin brother Brad.
Twelve years years ago Selwood was drafted pick 19 to the then all-conquering Brisbane in the midst of a three-peat premiership run.
Two rounds later Adam was snapped up by West Coast at selection 53. Like Kolodjashnij, Troy endured the frustration of his brother breaking ground first but says that Jake has the perfect temperament to deal with the situation.
“He’s a smart kid Jake,” Selwood said.
“I’ve spoken to him about the fact that if you do the right things your career will take care of itself.
“I had people asking was I jealous about my brother playing in a flag or playing 100 more games but you get to a point where you are just rapt for what they are doing.
“There is a bit of pressure on in terms of thinking you need to pull your finger but you’ve got to realise that there is a plan in place and that’s all you need to hear from your coaches.”
Selwood, who played 75 games for the Lions between 2003-2010, believes Kolodjashnij’s advanced maturity will override any indifferent emotions created by his brother’s flying start.
“Some young guys come in these days and they are impatient because they’ve been the star of their side and they walk in with this great faith, which is a good thing, but it has to be tempered at times,” he said.
“I remember thinking I’d be rapt if I played one game in my first year and some kids come in and expect to play 10. You’ve got to say ‘hold up a minute’ at times but Jake isn’t one you need to do that with.”
While Troy has been a sounding board for Jake inside the football club, his mother Maree has helped Paul and Sharon Kolodjashnij work through the emotions associated with twin brothers being split after 17 years joined at the hip.
While Geelong is mindful of the unique situation confronting Jake, so too is Kade, who is careful not to jibe his twin brother in their weekly phone chats.
“He’s pretty good in that he won’t have a friendly dig about me having not played a game because he knows I probably won’t take it too well,” Jake said.
“He doesn’t rub it in.”
From Prospect in Tasmania, Jake grew up a rabid Hawthorn supporter and by his own admission is relishing every moment with the “arch enemy”.
Billeted to a host family he says the AFL schedule allows no time for homesickness and is comforted by the fact Geelong reminds him very much of life in his home state.
Despite the stable backline set up, and the fact the Cats still consider themselves in the premiership mix, Kolodjashnij believes his goal of playing one senior game this year is still achievable.
While he knows its only a sneaky chance its one of the many motivating factors helping his push through his rookie season as an AFL player.
Rating play reading and intercept marking as his strength Jake has been a steady performer at VFL level this year playing the dour defensive role down back.
His says the next challenge is to weave an attacking element into his game while adding the strength required to hold down a key post.
Meantime, he can watch brother Kade strut his stuff and dream of the day he follows in his footsteps.
“One day I plan on not being able to watch him play because I’ll be playing myself,” he said.
