AFL concussion waiver scandal involving Geelong player Jake Kolodjashnij
Consensus Summary
Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij, a 30-year-old player with a history of concussions, publicly identified himself as the subject of a secret AFL concussion waiver that allowed him to continue playing despite waiving his right to sue the club for future brain injuries. The waiver, developed over two months of work and involving legal and family representation, was not lodged with the AFL or AFLPA, leading to a 'please explain' letter from the league on Friday. Kolodjashnij, who has played 11 games this season and was named an emergency for Geelong’s Saturday game against Essendon, defended his decision, stating he participated fully in the AFL’s concussion panel process and felt healthy. His twin brother Kade retired from AFL football due to concussion issues, with The Age noting Kade suffered delayed symptoms in a 2019 game. Geelong CEO Steve Hocking took responsibility for the oversight, calling it a 'process misstep,' while the AFL initially avoided sanction, describing the case as 'complex and unique.' The scandal has reignited concerns about player safety and the handling of concussions in the league, with ongoing legal battles and class actions looming.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Jake Kolodjashnij is 30 years old
- Kolodjashnij has played 11 games for Geelong this year
- Kolodjashnij played most recently in round 18
- Kolodjashnij issued a public statement on Friday evening
- Geelong received a 'please explain' letter from the AFL on Friday
- Kolodjashnij participated in the AFL’s independent concussion panel process
- Kolodjashnij’s twin brother Kade retired from AFL football after concussion issues
- Geelong CEO Steve Hocking took responsibility for not lodging the waiver with the AFL and AFLPA
- The concussion waiver process took two months of work and involved legal and family representation
- Kolodjashnij is named as an emergency for Geelong’s game on Saturday against Essendon
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Kolodjashnij’s brother Kade suffered symptoms of delayed concussion in a 2019 game against Essendon and returned to the VFL seven weeks later
- The waiver was developed two years ago and the club described it as a 'process misstep'
- Craig Drummond was president of Geelong and a director of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health from 2009 to 2017
- The Florey Institute led a brain health project for former footballers from 2014 to 2019
- Kolodjashnij mentioned tough pre-season conversations about his future but chose to continue playing
- Kolodjashnij said he felt 'great physically' and took the concussion process 'week by week'
- The AFL initially said it was 'satisfied' Geelong had not used the waiver to return a medically unfit player
- Kolodjashnij celebrated his 200th game earlier this season after missing the entire 2025 campaign due to hip and groin injuries
- Kolodjashnij was a 2022 premiership player
- Kolodjashnij has played 209 games in his career
- Kolodjashnij’s twin brother Kade retired prematurely in 2020 due to concussion
- The secret agreement with Kolodjashnij was struck in 2024
- The AFL initially avoided sanction on Thursday night, calling it a 'complex and unique case'
- Geelong stated they were not attempting to vary the AFL standard playing contract or avoid health and safety laws
- Craig Drummond issued a three-line statement on Thursday night calling concussion a 'challenging medical and legal issue'
- There is a multimillion-dollar concussion class action against the AFL set to go to trial next year
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Kolodjashnij missed the entire 2025 campaign due to injuries, but the ABC does not mention this specific detail
- The Guardian says Kolodjashnij played 11 matches this season, while The Age says '11 games for the Cats this year'—both align but The Age does not specify if it excludes 2025
- The Age mentions Kolodjashnij’s brother Kade suffered delayed concussion symptoms in a 2019 game, but the ABC states Kade retired in 2020 without specifying the 2019 incident
- The Guardian says Kolodjashnij played his 200th game earlier this season, but neither The Age nor ABC mention this milestone
- The ABC states the waiver was struck in 2024, while The Age refers to the process beginning 'two years ago' (2024) but does not explicitly confirm the exact year of signing
Source Articles
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Geelong’s Jake Kolodjashnij outs himself as player who signed AFL concussion waiver
Veteran Geelong defender ended two days of speculation when he issued a statement through the Cats Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The AFL player with concussion issues who waived his right to sue Geelong has gone public to defend his club and the process that led to him continuing his career in a twist to the scandal that has engulfed the competition. Defender Jake Kolodjashnij ended two days of speculation when he issued a statement through the Cats on Friday eveni
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