Arabic version: جيلونغ يستبعد كولودجاشنيج هذا الأسبوع

According to ABC News, Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij will be unavailable for selection at both AFL and VFL level this weekend as the club responds to questions over a concussion waiver previously included in his contract.

The Cats said in a statement late on Tuesday that Kolodjashnij would not be considered for either side. “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,” Geelong said.

The AFL had given Geelong until the end of Tuesday to answer a “please explain” concerning the waiver. The agreement, revealed last week, had not been lodged with the AFL and was not known to the AFL Players’ Association. Kolodjashnij later publicly confirmed that he was the player involved, and the waiver has since been removed from his contract.

Kolodjashnij, 31, signed the waiver two years ago. It meant he effectively accepted legal responsibility for future brain trauma, in an effort to indemnify the club and its medical staff from possible court action. Media reports said the AFL Commission had engaged independent legal counsel to help decide whether Geelong should face sanctions.

Drafted by Geelong in 2013, Kolodjashnij has played 209 games for the Cats and last appeared at AFL level against GWS a month ago. His twin brother, Kade, who played for Gold Coast and Melbourne, retired in 2020 because of concussion issues.