Kolodjashnij, originally from Launceston, 2017 season ended after suffering concussion in round 13 last season and has been restricted to four AFL and three NEAFL games while wearing a helmet this season due to its symptoms. 

But the Tasmanian got some good news last week when scans revealed that a weakness in his neck was the contributing factor, which should not impact the 22-year-old in the long term. 

Concussion and its impacts has been a talking point in the AFL in recent times with the likes of Western Bulldogs’ Liam Picken and St Kilda’s Koby Stevens sidelined indefinitely due to its impacts.

“It is a bit of a shock and it is very sad to see a teammate impacted like this and not really knowing why, as there was this period of time where he didn’t really know what his future was,’’ Rischitelli told Fairfax Media.

“It is a relief for Kade to know that it is not over yet as he definitely would have been thinking it could be the end. I know it was a big challenge for him and Kade is the type of person who wouldn’t say much, yet deep down it was a really challenging period for Kade.”

Rischitelli, who has played 226 games for the Suns and Brisbane, admitted Kolodjashnij’s situation did make him stop and think about his own football mortality.

“You relate it to life at times and how things can change really quickly for you,’’ he said.

“When we heard about Kade as the whole footy club was a bit unsure about what was going to happen, but the boys are really rapt and it is great to have him in the group and to see him out there kicking the footy.  Just to be back out there is a good for him and he can focus on the future.”’

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Kolodjashnij, the number five draft pick in the 2013 national draft, has played 74 games for the Suns and is out of contract at the end of the year.

Rischitelli and his Gold Coast teammates will face Hawthorn at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium from 1.45pm on Saturday. The Suns will start the round 15^th with a 3-9 record, while the 7-5 Hawthorn is ninth.

Gold Coast won its two matches over Hawthorn in 2017, however, the Suns are yet to win a match in Launceston in four attempts. 

Its most recent match in the city was a 26-point loss in 2016.