Former Australian Football League (AFL) player Kade Kolodjashnij has opened up about the challenging realities of retiring early from professional sport due to medical issues, reflecting on his transition from football to a new career in finance. Drafted by Gold Coast with the fifth pick in the 2013 AFL draft alongside his twin brother Jake, Kade's promising career was ultimately curtailed by a series of concussions, leading to his medical retirement in 2020 after a stint with Melbourne.
Kade’s departure from the game followed multiple years of injury rehabilitation and took place during a disrupted 2020 season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview, he described the sudden end to his career as a "lonely" experience, highlighting the difficulty in finding a new purpose after football. “One day you are in a rigid, structured routine with camaraderie, and then it’s, ‘Thanks for your services and good luck,’” he said, emphasizing the anxiety and isolation that can accompany a medically enforced exit from sport.
During his playing career, Kade suffered at least 15 concussions, including three in a single week. Despite these setbacks, he continued to strive to return to form, even training and playing soon after head injuries, though ongoing symptoms eventually prevented his comeback. At times, medical assessments attributed his symptoms to neck problems or migraines, underscoring the challenges in diagnosing concussion-related issues.
Since retiring, Kade has been working to rebuild his life and has found satisfaction in a career as a financial broker in Geelong. A long-standing interest in financial literacy, supported by a commerce and finance degree from Deakin University and a finance certification, has helped him establish a new professional path. He has also leveraged social media, where his property and financial advice has gained significant attention, attracting over 1.5 million views across various platforms.
Kade encourages current athletes to plan for life beyond sport and to approach finances with caution, drawing on his own experience of early property investment, which has outperformed his playing career earnings. He warns against the temptation to overextend financially during uncertain athletic careers, noting that cash flow can be a serious constraint.
His brother Jake Kolodjashnij, who recently retired amid controversy surrounding club liability over concussion management, played 209 AFL games and won a premiership with Geelong. While Jake’s career lasted significantly longer, both brothers’ retirements came under similar medical circumstances. Kade expressed pride in Jake’s achievements and acknowledged the difficult emotions surrounding his brother’s abrupt exit from the sport.
Off the field, Kade balances his work with family life alongside his fiancée Kiara and their two young children. The Kolodjashnij family remains deeply connected to sport and business, including investments in a sister’s insect repellent company.
Reflecting on their shared draft night and parallel journeys, Kade suggests that while the path was unexpected, the lessons learned from their experiences are invaluable as they navigate their post-football lives.