The case involving Geelong's Jake Kolodjashnij has raised questions about players' insurance for traumatic brain injuries. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)
The report into Geelong player Jake Kolodjashnij's concussion waiver was conspicuous because of an absence.
The AFL's independent investigator into the matter, James Peters KC, did not find that Geelong erred by allowing Kolodjashnij to sign an "acknowledgement of risk" letter absolving Geelong from its legal obligations.
In order to continue his career after the AFL's Concussion Panel couldn't give a firm yes or no on whether he could keep playing, Kolodjashnij agreed to take on the legal risk of damage or injury that might arise from any future concussions.
The AFL fined Geelong $140,000 ($40,000 was for a suspended sanction from a separate incident last year) for altering Kolodjashnij's contract outside the standard playing contract and for failing to lodge that document with the AFL.
Jake Kolodjashnij of the Cats is yet to return to the AFL after concerns were raised about a waiver he signed.
(Getty Images: AFL Photos/Michael Willson)
But not because there was anything intrinsically wrong with what was in that letter.
"We do not make any adverse findings against Geelong or its Board for deciding to enter into an agreement with Mr Kolodjashnij seeking to mitigate the legal exposure to Geelong," Peters wrote in his summary.
That statement is significant because it doesn't rule out the possibility of another player entering into a similar agreement down the track.
That's clearly important because we know football players will do almost anything to keep playing.
Moreover, with an average AFL salary of about $500,000 per year, ending a career prematurely can have massive financial implications for players.
Both the league and the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) are adamant that it can't.
Andrew Dillon says the AFL and players' association would not approve any similar waivers. (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)
Grilled on Thursday, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said any similar waiver brought to the attention of the league and the Players Association would not be approved.
"If that [a proposed waiver] takes away from the minimum terms that have been bargained for by the Players Association … it would require approval from the Players Association," Dillon said.
