AFL Commission Chairman Craig Drummond Apologises for Geelong Concussion Waiver

AFL Commission chairman Craig Drummond has apologised for his part in Geelong's controversial concussion contract with defender Jake Kolodjashnij.

Drummond was Geelong president two years ago when premiership defender Kolodjashnij signed a contract in which he took on legal responsibility for future brain trauma in a bid to exonerate the club and its medical staff from court action down the line.

It is understood Kolodjashnij's agent was not aware of the contract, and neither the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) or AFL were informed at the time.

It is also understood that while Kolodjashnij passed an independent medical test, he was still considered at risk of future complications from head injuries.

Jake's twin brother, Kade, was forced to retire from the game in 2020 due to ongoing concussion problems.

"I was president of the Geelong Football Club in 2024," Drummond 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 it was an error to keep the process quiet, and clarified that he would not be involved in AFL discussions about the matter.

"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," Drummond said.

"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.

"I apologise for the mistakes made in this very complex situation."

Speaking to ABC Sport ahead of the Saturday games, AFL boss Andrew Dillon reiterated that it was a complex situation.

"This is an issue that is really complex and in this one in particular it's complex and unique," Dillon said.

"But concussion and the effects that has on players or participants in contact sports ... is an issue that's confronting contact sports worldwide.

"What we have here is a player that has suffered multiple concussions, went before an AFL concussion panel, ultimately over a period of months was cleared as fit to play.

"Through that period, over a number of months, Jake's worked with the club doctors, independent medical experts, the club, and the club board and management to make sure that he understood their were risks to continue playing, not withstanding that you've been cleared medically fit to play.

"That was the intent behind what was going on."

Dillon said the please explain was around why the concussion agreement sat alongside his playing contract.

"We've gone to Geelong under the rules and asked them why it wasn't lodged with us," Dillon said.

"So we're waiting to hear back from Geelong on that."

The Cats are expected to be fined over the contract saga after initially being cleared of wrongdoing.