As Sharon Kolodjashnij knows, it's hard not to get excited for a grand final.
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And while trying to keep things in perspective, she and her husband Paul can't wait to see their son Jake run out for Geelong in Saturday's AFL decider at the MCG.
The proud parents, who are based on the Gold Coast, will join other Cats' families on a bus to the 'G.
They're hoping they'll have reason to celebrate after the big game.
Sharon reflected on how Jake, who grew up in Launceston, got interested in footy.
The consistent defender and his twin brother Kade were drafted in 2013.
"They played soccer up to grade 7 mainly because that was a team sport to play back then," Sharon said.
"With footy you couldn't start until you were under-13.
"They played soccer and then basketball and went to the Prospect Sharks (now Hawks) and then learned the game from there and played with their school St Pats as well."
They'd go on to play for the Tassie Mariners - who are now known as the Devils - as well as with Launceston in the TSL development league and seniors.
"Both the boys were pretty dedicated with their training and watched what they ate even back then and tried to do everything the coaches told them," Sharon said.
Jake, 27, notched his 150th game this year.
"We flew down for it and it was pretty exciting and he played well that night," Sharon said.
"He was happy to have our support and family and friends there and it was a good milestone because it's hard in the AFL as sometimes you get delisted in a year or two - it's hard to have a long career."
Sharon also noted her father Barry Appleby would have been smiling from ear to ear to see Jake play on grand final day.
"He played for Tassie at one stage a couple of times back in the 1960s but he's passed away now," she said.
"He would be so over the moon if he was still here because he followed the boys right up to when he passed away in 2019."
Sharon also clarified that Kolodjashnij is Ukrainian.
She said Jake's grand father Alex fled the Ukraine in the 1950s. Jake made his AFL debut in 2015 and also played in the 2020 grand final against Richmond.
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