Geelong has been fined over the concussion waiver given to Jake Kolodjashnij. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)
Geelong will have to pay $140,000 in fines for failing to inform the AFL about the concussion waiver in Jake Kolodjashnij's contract.
James Peters KC found Geelong's failure to lodge the variation was an oversight, and there was no intention to conceal the agreement or deceive the AFL and AFLPA.
Mr Peters also found there was "no inappropriate or improper conduct" by either Geelong or AFL representatives, and made no finding into the club's decision to enter into a player agreement "to mitigate its legal exposure".
Geelong has been fined $140,000 for failing to officially let the AFL know about the concussion waiver in Jake Kolodjashnij's contract.
The penalty is $100,000 plus a suspended sanction of $40,000, which stems from the league fining Geelong in October after an investigation into the club's third-party agreements.
The amount will be paid into the AFL and AFLPA Players' Injury and Support Fund.
The AFL brought in James Peters KC to investigate Geelong after the league issued a "please explain" when the revelation about Kolodjashnij's contract broke this month.
Mr Peters found Geelong's failure to lodge the variation was an oversight.
Kolodjashnij, the 2022 Cats premiership defender who has not played since the story broke, returned to training this week ahead of the finals.
As debate rages over Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij's controversial concussion waiver, what is the answer for players being exposed to potential brain damage in contact sports?
Mr Peters investigated the inclusion of a waiver in Kolodjashnij's 2024 contract, which followed several concussions.
"The review found Geelong had given careful and detailed consideration to the risk of Mr Kolodjashnij continuing to play following an uncertain outcome from the AFL Concussion Panel, and consulted extensively with the AFL, club doctors, lawyers, insurers, and Mr Kolodjashnij and his family," the AFL said in a statement.
"It further found there was no inappropriate or improper conduct warranting additional action under AFL rules by either Geelong or AFL representatives and made no adverse findings in relation to the club's decision to enter into an agreement with the player to mitigate its legal exposure.
"It also found that Mr Kolodjashnij was not coerced into signing the letter."
