AFL Commission chairman and former Geelong president Craig Drummond has apologised for “the mistakes made in this very complex situation” amid the fallout from the league’s concussion contract saga.
On Friday, Geelong premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij identified himself as the player at the centre of a secret concussion deal with the club, which was scrapped this week after the AFL said it did not approve it.
Kolodjashnij didn’t directly address signing any document pertaining to his playing contract but said he “participated fully” in the AFL’s concussion panel process and is insisted he is fully healthy and fit to play at the highest level.
On Saturday, Drummond, who was the Cats’ president when the deal was signed, said in a statement that despite getting agreement from Kolodjashnij for the secret deal, “the club went too far in adding a waiver into an informed consent document and it will be removed”.
“I was president of the Geelong Football Club in 2024,” the AFL chairman said.
“This was an extremely complex and sensitive matter, and obligations to both the player and the club were very carefully considered by the Geelong board.
“Jake’s welfare was central to all discussions and I have been thinking of him particularly over the past few days.
“While the player was medically cleared to play, the club engaged in lengthy discussions including with him, his family, doctors and insurers about his future and the potential risks of returning to play.
“Regardless of the player’s agreement, the club went too far in adding a waiver into an informed consent document and it will be removed.
Drummond said the waiver didn’t remove Kolodjashnij’s protections as a player under statutory health and safety laws.
“As the club has also acknowledged, there was also a process failure in relation to lodgement of the agreement with the AFL and the AFLPA [AFL Players Association].
“I have not and will not be involved in any deliberation in relation to this matter and its assessment under the AFL rules and regulations.
