YOUNG Sun Kade Kolodjashnij has been picking the brains of his older teammates this pre-season as he prepares to cop more attention in 2016.
 
Kolodjashnij was one of few Gold Coast players to enhance their reputation in a four-and-a-half win season, deservedly finishing second to Tom Lynch in the club's best and fairest.
 
Playing on a half-back flank that was often under pressure, he slowly improved defensively and was able to muster 22 disposals a game, up from 17 in his debut season.
 
With Nick Malceski battling to overcome knee problems and recapture his best form, opposition attention slowly turned to Kolodjashnij, who was often the springboard for attack from the Suns' defensive 50.
 
The 20-year-old Tasmanian is expecting more of the same next season and is already doing his homework to combat it.
 
"I was starting to get more attention later in the year and it was pretty challenging to start off with," Kolodjashnij told AFL.com.au.
 
"I had a chat to Malceski and Andrew Raines, who was a tagger, and they gave me some good tips.
 
"I'm watching vision of different players from different teams and what they do well, and taking some tips from their game to put into my game.

"I've seen a bit of vision on (Corey) Enright and a couple of other players and that's really helped me.
 
"I'm expecting a bit more attention this year, so I've got to prepare myself for that." 

Kolodjashnij said he has also been working closely with the new Suns fitness department to improve his strength and power, to "improve the contested side of my game and my ability to run off and create from behind the arc".
 
He may have just two seasons of experience, but Kolodjashnij has an old head on his young shoulders.
 
After agreeing that last season's 16th-placed finish wasn't much fun, the young defender is already talking team rather than individual.
 
He said he was just as interested in helping others as developing his own game, and that the Suns needed to earn the respect back of the competition.

One step in that process for Gold Coast would be to re-sign Kolodjashnij, whose contract expires at the end of 2016.
 
"It's going really well at the moment – it's a great place to be around," he said.
 
"All going well, hopefully I'll sign on."

Kade Kolodjashnij has worked to improve the defensive side of his game. Picture: AFL Media