Australian Rules-Geelong fined $100,000 for concussion waiver with player

The Australian Football League (AFL) has imposed a fine of A$140,000 ($100,500) on Geelong Cats for not informing the league about a change in a player's contract that waived his legal rights regarding concussion. The club signed a contract with star player Jake Kolodjashnij two years ago, which acknowledged the potential risks of playing in the top-tier Australian Rules football.

Despite multiple concussion incidents during his career, Kolodjashnij was deemed fit to play by an AFL panel and subsequently extended his contract until the end of the 2026 season. The details of this concussion waiver were only disclosed earlier this month through a report in Melbourne's Herald Sun, leading to widespread criticism.

An independent review conducted by the AFL found that Geelong had breached its rules by unauthorised variation to Kolodjashnij's contract without notifying the AFL or the players' association (AFLPA). However, the review concluded that there was no intention to deceive or conceal the information. AFL Commissioner Paul Bassat announced the sanction, stating that such a procedural failure would not be tolerated in the future.

The AFL Chief Executive, Andrew Dillon, emphasized that any future concussion waivers would not be approved. Geelong apologized for the errors made in handling the consent letter and expressed their focus on providing care and support to the player, allowing him to make decisions about his career. Kolodjashnij, who hasn't played for Geelong since July, expressed disappointment over the public disclosure of his private medical information.

The players' union, AFLPA, affirmed their ongoing support for Kolodjashnij, emphasizing that his wellbeing should never have been placed in such a situation. The issue of repetitive head trauma has resulted in lawsuits against the league and clubs, with over 100 former AFL players currently involved in a class action alleging injury, loss, and damage due to concussion during their careers.

The AFL leadership acknowledged their responsibility in player care and pledged to spend A$25 million studying the long-term effects of concussion and head injuries.