NOTE: This episode reports on matters covered in the media and public statements; it does not allege guilt or wrongdoing by any individual or organisation named. Information is current as of recording and may have changed since.
A factual look at the AFL's 2026 concussion-waiver case involving Geelong and Jake Kolodjashnij: what the reporting shows happened, how the AFL and AFLPA responded, and what it raises about consent, governance, and accountability in professional sport.
04:00 - Introduction to Episode
06:30 - What is Said to Allegedly Happen
13:45 - Geelong’s Own Clubs Doctors
20:10 – The Money Question
24:00 – Is there Double Standards with Hollands Case and Port Adelaide?
29:35 – Risk to the Player
35:10 - Consent in Professional Sport
40:16 – 2001 CISG/ Jordan Lewis Concussion
44:50 – Athletes Can Not See Past Next Week
REFERENCE LIST
1. Clark, Jay. Report via CODE Sports (video), summarised in “Shock concussion report as club's ‘secret deal’ with player sets ‘dangerous example’,” AFL Daily / NewsBeep, 2026. https://www.newsbeep.com/au/844998/
2. “AFL club had secret concussion deal with player: report.” AAP, syndicated via Newcastle Herald. https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9325028/afl-club-had-secret-concussion-deal-with-player-report/
3. Edmund, Sam. “Revealed: Victorian giants named in secret concussion deal.” SEN, August 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/08/05/afl-news-concussion-bombshell-secret-deal-afl-aflpa
4. “AFL and AFLPA release statement: Victorian club at centre of secret concussion deal revealed.” Zero Hanger, 2026. https://www.zerohanger.com/victorian-club-at-centre-of-concussion-deal-revealed-180859/
5. “Geelong avoids sanction over player concussion deal.” AAP wire report. https://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/9325028/geelong-avoids-sanction-over-player-concussion-deal/
6. “Geelong Cats receive please explain letter from AFL over concussion deal.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1578601/geelong-cats-receive-please-explain-letter-from-afl-over-concussion-deal
7. “Cat identifies himself as concussion waiver player.” AAP, via Moree Champion. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326238/cat-identifies-himself-as-concussion-waiver-player/
8. “Geelong's Jake Kolodjashnij outs himself as player who signed AFL concussion waiver.” Guardian Australia via AOL. https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/geelong-jake-kolodjashnij-outs-himself-091217000.html
9. “Top-six hunting Cats coach kept out of concussion case.” AAP, via Moree Champion / Inverell Times. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326222/top-six-hunting-cats-coach-kept-out-of-concussion-case/
10. “I apologise for the mistakes made: AFL Chair Craig Drummond sorry for Jake Kolodjashnij affair while he was president of Geelong Cats.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1578906/i-apologise-for-the-mistakes-made-afl-chair-craig-drummond-sorry-for-jake-kolodjashnij-affair-while-he-was-president-of-geelong-cats
11. “AFL chairman, CEO break silence on Cats concussion saga.” AAP, via Moree Champion / Inverell Times / Katherine Times. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326329/afl-chairman-ceo-break-silence-on-cats-concussion-saga/
12. “Caroline Wilson grills Andrew Dillon over Geelong concussion saga.” 3AW. https://www.3aw.com.au/caroline-wilson-grills-andrew-dillon-over-geelong-concussion-saga/
13. “AFL CEO Andrew Dillon speaks on Geelong-concussion-deal saga, potential punishments.” Zero Hanger. https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-ceo-andrew-dillon-speaks-on-geelong-concussion-deal-saga-potential-punishments-180967
14. “AFL club Geelong under scrutiny over alleged concussion deal with player.” AOL / PA Media. https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/afl-club-geelong-under-scrutiny-063851000.html
15. Rooke v Australian Football League & Geelong Football Club, Third Party Notice, Supreme Court of Victoria, filed 18 September 2025 (Geelong's claim against twelve named former club doctors: Hugh Seward, Peter Larkins, Andrew Irwin, Chris Bradshaw, Geoff Allen, Drew Slimmon, David Long, James McLaren, Peter Ryan, Gregory Lindquist, Jeanne McGivern, Kendall Brooks). https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/Rooke%20-%20Third%20Party%20Notice%20%5BRedacted%5D.pdf
16. “Australian Court Dismisses, In Part, Concussion Claim Against AFL.” Sports Litigation Alert. https://sportslitigationalert.com/australian-court-dismisses-in-part-concussion-claim-against-afl/
17. “2023 Geelong Football Club season.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Geelong_Football_Club_season
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19. “Kade Kolodjashnij.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kade_Kolodjashnij
20. “Clubs to get cap relief for medically retired players.” AFL.com.au, June 2024. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1153880/clubs-to-get-cap-relief-for-medically-retired-players
21. “AFL grants club relief for concussed, medically retired players.” Zero Hanger, June 2024. https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-grants-club-relief-for-concussed-medically-retired-players-152023/
22. “AFL bans new Blue for illicit drugs policy breach.” AFL.com.au, Nov 2023. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1064667/afl-bans-new-carlton-blues-recruit-elijah-hollands-for-illicit-drugs-policy-breach
23. “Hollands victim of mental health episode, not substance related.” SEN, April 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/04/17/afl-2026-carlton-elijah-hollands-vision-collingwood-game-concerning-footage
24. “Carlton cop big fine from AFL for Hollands mishandling.” ESPN, May 2026. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/48682566/afl-news-carlton-elijah-hollands
25. “Blues speak after copping hefty fine for Hollands affair.” AFL.com.au, May 2026. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1513236/afl-announces-outcome-of-investigation-into-elijah-hollands-for-carlton-blues-against-collingwood-magpies
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27. “Nigel Lappin.” Wikipedia; “Lions get Lappin up for '03 Grand Final despite broken ribs.” AFL.com.au. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Lappin ; https://www.afl.com.au/news/89240/lions-get-lappin-up-for-03-grand-final-despite-broken-ribs
28. “2004 AFL Grand Final.” Grokipedia. https://grokipedia.com/page/2004_AFL_Grand_Final
29. “Trent Croad.” Wikipedia; “Injury forces Croad into retirement.” Hawthorn FC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Croad ; https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/759776/injury-forces-croad-into-retirement
30. “Bulldogs veteran plays down broken back.” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/17690413/bulldogs-veteran-plays-broken-back
31. “Bulldog defender played finals series with a broken back.” AFL.com.au, 2016. https://www.afl.com.au/news/59655/bulldog-defender-played-finals-series-with-a-broken-back
32. “Bulldogs' bionic man retires after remarkable 15-year career.” AFL.com.au, 2019. https://www.afl.com.au/news/133337/bulldogs-bionic-man-dale-morris-retires-after-remarkable-career
33. “‘Would like to know why’: AFL questioned over failed intervention during major concussion.” Zero Hanger, 2026. https://www.zerohanger.com/would-like-to-know-why-afl-questioned-over-failed-intervention-during-major-concussion-179113
34. “Timeline of how the AFL has addressed concussion.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/concussion/timeline
35. “Ex-AFL player challenges league over concussion compensation.” Insurance Business Australia. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/workers-compensation/exafl-player-challenges-league-over-concussion-compensation-574064.aspx
36. “Former Western Bulldog Aiden O'Driscoll not giving up on AFL dream.” The Nightly, 2025. https://thenightly.com.au/sport/afl/former-western-bulldog-aiden-odriscoll-not-giving-up-on-afl-dream-seeks-second-opinion-on-medical-retirement-c-18273634
37. “Duties and Loyalties of AFL Club Doctors: A Hopeless Conflict of Interest.” Polaris Lawyers. https://www.polarislawyers.com.au/legal-compass/duties-and-loyalties-of-afl-club-doctors-a-hopeless-conflict-of-interest
38. “Why the AFL Is Its Own Worst Enemy When It Comes to Concussions, Tribunals and Player Safety.” Melbourne Sports Law Association. https://www.melbournesla.com/sports-law-forum/q7spsuhe52wr7fajn5qlvlxpl1xrn8
39. “AFL rules out using neutral doctors during games.” ESPN. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/40135833/afl-rules-neutral-independent-doctors-jeremy-cameron-concussion
40. “'Additional safeguard': AFL makes concussion changes.” ESPN. https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/48107582/afl-concussion-changes-lawsuit-arc-doctors
41. “Concussion sufferers launch class action against AFL.” ESPN. https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/35854961/afl-sued-former-players-class-action-concussion
42. Deubert, Christopher R., and I. Glenn Cohen. “Club Doctors.” Football Players Health Study, Harvard Law School. https://footballplayershealth.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/20
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