Geelong Football Club faces AFL inquiry over secret concussion waiver

The Geelong Football Club signed a secret agreement in 2024 with defender Jake Kolodjashnij that required him to assume all legal responsibility for any future concussion‑related brain injury. The deal was not approved by the Australian Football League (AFL) or the AFL Players Association and was kept hidden until a News Corp report revealed it in August 2026. Geelong subsequently received a “please explain” letter from the AFL, but the league announced no sanction, describing the case as “complex and unique”. Club chief executive Steve Hocking acknowledged the oversight and said the waiver would be removed from the contract. Former AFL commission chairman Craig Drummond, who was Geelong’s president when the waiver was signed, issued a brief statement on the broader issue of concussion. Kolodjashnij publicly identified himself as the player involved, expressing disappointment that his private medical information was disclosed. The controversy has drawn criticism from former players, the AFLPA, and legal commentators, highlighting gaps in player‑safety protections and insurance coverage for head injuries in Australian sport.