Last week, it was revealed that AFL club Geelong had signed a secret deal with player Jake Kolodjashnij to shift the legal risk of any future brain trauma onto the player rather than the club.
In response, the AFL issued a formal 'please explain', which is a written demand that Geelong explain the waiver and why it was hidden from the league.
While we await that response publicly, let’s dive into what we know.
Background
Kolodjashnij joined Geelong in 2015 and has spent his entire career at the club.
In 2024, while dealing with concussions but medically cleared to play, he re-signed on a two-year deal to the end of 2026.
At the same time, the club and Kolodjashnij signed a informed consent form, under which the player took on legal liability for any future brain trauma, shielding Geelong and its doctors from a claim.
Neither the AFL nor the AFL Players' Association was told it existed until it was made public last Thursday.
Timeline
The Herald Sun first reported the secret deal without naming the player.
The AFL and the players' association responded that night with a joint statement confirming Geelong would strip the waiver out, adding that the league was satisfied the letter had not been used to return a medically unfit player to the field.
No sanction followed.
The next day, Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking told reporters he had approved the arrangement and took the blame for not lodging the document with the AFL, meaning it was never formally filed with the league as required.
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He also confirmed that day the AFL had requested the club explain its decision.
Kolodjashnij then named himself publicly, saying he had gone through the AFL's independent concussion panel, which decides whether a player with a concussion history is safe to keep playing, and accepted its finding.
Response
Hocking was the club's chief executive when the deal was done and Craig Drummond, now chairman of the AFL Commission, was Geelong's president.
Drummond has since apologised and removed himself from the league's deliberations, saying “the club went too far”.
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield said on Monday that the club had "buggered it up" and that “[Geelong] can be better”.
What’s next?
Geelong was required to respond to the AFL this week.
There are two separate issues in play.
Not lodging the document is an administrative breach, which AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has said carries a maximum penalty of $20,000.
The attempt to strip the player of his right to sue falls under separate rules with no maximum, and is where the bigger fine would come from.
The AFL has appointed an independent legal counsel to review the case.
It’s expected the club will be fined for their conduct.
