Arabic version: سكوت يبتعد عن قضية ارتجاج جيلونغ

According to ABC News, Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott has spoken publicly for the first time since the club was fined over a concussion waiver in Jake Kolodjashnij’s contract. Scott said he was unsure whether Kolodjashnij would play for Geelong again and stressed that he had stayed separate from decisions concerning the defender’s future.

Geelong was fined $140,000 for failing to officially inform the AFL about the waiver. The penalty comprises $100,000 and a suspended $40,000 sanction, following an investigation into the club’s third-party agreements. The AFL had fined Geelong last October.

Scott said he had deliberately kept his distance from the situation. “I’ve been really conscious to separate myself from this,” he said. “This is one of those situations [where] if I could help, I would.” He said he had been told, and believed independently, that he would not be of assistance and therefore did not want to get in the way.

Kolodjashnij identified himself as the player involved shortly after the matter emerged. He has not played at any level since then, but returned to the club last week before the finals. If he does play, it will almost certainly be in the VFL, where Geelong is premiership favourite in the second-tier competition.

Scott said he did not know all the facts and supported the club’s approach of acknowledging certain aspects and moving forward. Geelong, following the pre-finals bye, will play Carlton in an elimination final at the MCG on Friday night. Midfielder Tom Atkins said on Monday that the matter was not a distraction as the Cats pursue a fifth premiership this century.