Breaking: AFL hits Geelong with monster fine over concussion waiver scandal

The AFL has imposed a hefty $140,000 fine on Geelong for overlooking the inclusion of a concussion waiver in the contract of player Jake Kolodjashnij. This penalty, consisting of $100,000 plus a suspended $40,000 sanction, results from an investigation conducted by the league into the club's third-party agreements. Initially, Geelong received a fine from the AFL in October following an inquiry into the club's third-party agreements.

James Peters KC, appointed by the AFL to probe Geelong, found that the failure to register the variation was merely an oversight. Kolodjashnij, a 2022 Cats premiership defender who hasn't played since the revelation, has resumed training ahead of the finals. The AFL investigation delved into the inclusion of the waiver in Kolodjashnij's 2024 contract, which came after multiple concussions.

Geelong's chief executive, Steve Hocking, had previously defended the deal, stating the club would not have altered its approach to the situation. Upon signing the agreement in 2024, Kolodjashnij was required to accept full responsibility for any potential brain trauma, enabling him to continue his career with the club. Recently, Geelong's president, Grant McCabe, referred to the agreement as a "voluntary assumption of risk," highlighting extensive consultations with AFL officials prior to its signing.

The disclosure has put pressure on both Hocking and current AFL chairman Craig Drummond, who served as Geelong's president when the waiver was agreed upon.