He has been one of Geelong's most reliable players throughout one of the club's most successful eras, now the Cats will get the opportunity to celebrate the career of Jake Kolodjashnij as he prepares to play his 200th game.
After making his return to the elite level last week after a 568 day absence, the premiership defender will join an elite group of Geelong players to reach 200 games, an excellent achievement for a sublime player and person.
Hailing from Launceston, Kolodjashnij's journey began in 2013 when he was selected by Geelong in the AFL draft with Pick No. 41, commencing his incredible career in the blue and white Hoops.
The Cats opted for a year of development for the young defender, plying his trade at VFL level which has been a common theme at the club with players like Sam De Koning, Gryan Miers and Connor O'Sullivan all following a similar path.
His calm demeanour and willingness to play difficult roles in defence impressed his coaches and teammates, which ultimately resulted in Kolodjashnij earning his AFL debut in Round 12 of the 2015 season.
In a match where the club was celebrating the 300 game milestone of legendary defender Corey Enright, the next generation was also on display with Kolodjashnij collecting seven disposals and six one-percent efforts.
He would go on to play nine games in the 2015 season, before cementing his place in the side the following year.
Kolodjashnij went on to win Geelong's Best Young Player Award in 2016 and provided a stable influence on the last line of defence, playing 17 games or more every year up until the end of 2024.
Such was his incredible commitment to playing his role, Kolodjashnij's chase for a first career goal extended all the way until 2021, when he finally split the big sticks in Round 21 against GWS, sparking an incredible celebration from his teammates who were certainly aware of the occasion.
But 2022 would ultimately be the standout year in his career, with Kolodjashnij playing a vital role in Geelong's season on the way to becoming a premiership player after a number of near misses.
One of the best games in his career came in the Preliminary Final against Brisbane, where Kolodjashnij collected a career-high 23 disposals and picked off 13 intercept possessions, helping to guide the Cats to the Grand Final.
Unfortunately it would not all be smooth sailing and after featuring in the 2024 Preliminary Final, Kolodjashnij faced an injury-interrupted 2025 season and did not make an appearance at AFL level.
But after a 568-day break between games at the elite level, Kolodjashnij returned last week at Gather Round against West Coast and impressed on return, setting the stage for his 200th career game on Friday night against the Western Bulldogs.
From 2015 to 2024, Kolodjashnij led Geelong for spoils and sat third for total intercept marks, quite a remarkable feat considering the Cats had players like Harry Taylor, Tom Stewart and Jack Henry across that span.
He has featured in 21 Finals matches, the 10th most of any current player and has an incredible 66.08% win rate across his career, playing a pivotal role in Geelong's successes over the past decade.
Kolodjashnij will reach his 200th AFL game this Friday night, as the Cats prepare to take on the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium.
