CHARLIE Cameron one week, Dustin Martin the next?
After blanketing the Brisbane star last week after his fast start, Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij is ready for his next challenge, and there is no bigger task in football.
In past battles against Richmond, the steady, sturdy and reliable Cats backman has taken on Martin. He's ready to reacquaint himself with the two-time Norm Smith medallist in Saturday night's Grand Final, with Martin short-priced favourite to take home a record third best-on-ground in a flag decider.
Kolodjashnij says he will wait to see what defensive coach and Cats great Matthew Scarlett decides, but that he would be ready to take on Martin on the biggest stage.
"I've been on Dusty a few times. I'll just wait to see what Matty Scarlett wants to do there," Kolodjashnij told AFL.com.au.
"If he gives me the tap on the shoulder come Thursday I'll be more than happy to play on Dusty. It's obviously a big role and he's a key player for them, so it's a challenge I'm looking forward to if it does come my way."
Martin was solid in the clubs' last meeting, gathering 17 touches in Richmond's comfortable round 17 victory, and Kolodjashnij said it would take a concerted team approach to mitigate Martin's influence.
"It's easier said than done. I personally think it's got to be a team effort and I've got some really good teammates back there to give me a hand and chop out if need be. [It's about] trying to be accountable for him around stoppages and he's really dangerous one-on-one down there, so I've just got to be strong at the contest and do as best I can," he said.
"It's pretty crazy to think [about playing on Martin], but like I said, it's just another challenge I'm really looking forward to.
"I've played on some pretty good forwards so far in the finals series, so I've just got to prepare as best I can, watch some vision and work really hard on the track and do the best I can."
One of those was Cameron, whose two first-term goals in the preliminary final set up Brisbane for a strong start before the Cats took total control of the game to book a Grand Final place. Cameron finished with five disposals in the clash.
"It was amazing. It was probably one of the better feelings I've had in footy to be honest, to get over that little hoodoo of four prelims and finally being able to make it, but obviously there's plenty of work left to be done," Kolodjashnij said.
"I'm going to savour this week and really look forward to the journey."
Kolodjashnij will do so with his family in Queensland, having had a different hub experience to many of his teammates.
His parents live only a 10-minute drive away from the club's Southport base in Runaway Bay, allowing the tight-checking defender to catch up with them throughout his stay. His sister lives in Toowoomba, while his twin brother Kade, who has played with Gold Coast and Melbourne, has travelled to Queensland to be able to watch the Grand Final at the Gabba.
Kade is serving his 14-day quarantine period at a Gold Coast hotel.
"He's just doing the quarantine period currently in Surfers, but he'll get out a day or two before the 'Granny' so he's pretty pumped to be able to watch it," Kolodjashnij said.
"He came up just in case we made it, so it's worked out really well and I'll have all the close family up here watching the game, which will be really good."
