The player at the centre of a concussion waiver controversy, Geelong’s Jake Kolodjashnij, will not play this weekend as the club prepares to find out whether it will face sanctions.
It emerged last Thursday that the Cats struck a secret agreement with a player, who had had a history of concussions.
Kolodjashnij went public confirming he was the player involved.
The waiver has since been removed from his contract.
“Geelong Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij will be unavailable for selection at AFL or VFL level this weekend,” the club said a statement late on Tuesday.
“The care and wellbeing of Jake remains the club’s priority, and the club will continue to support him and his family through this period.”
The Cats had until the end of Tuesday to respond to the “please explain” from the AFL over the concussion waiver that Kolodjashnij signed but which was never seen by the AFL or the AFLPA.
Amid speculation over the futures of Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking and AFL chairman Craig Drummond, the club board had held a crisis meeting on Monday to work out its response to the league.
Hocking was Cats chief executive and Drummond was the club president when the deal was struck two years ago with Koladjashnij.
The Geelong defender signed a waiver that meant he effectively took on legal responsibility for future brain trauma in a bid to indemnify the club and its medical staff from potential court action.
Media reports on Tuesday said that the AFL Commission had hired independent legal counsel to help determine whether the Cats should face sanctions over the issue.
The 31-year-old Kolodjashnij was drafted by the club in 2013 and he has played 209 games for Geelong.
He last played at AFL level for the Cats against GWS a month ago.
His twin brother Kade, who played for Gold Coast and Melbourne, was forced to retire in 2020 due to concussion issues.
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