Geelong coach Chris Scott has revealed he knew nothing about the club’s secret concussion deal with premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij and doesn’t have enough information to give an informed opinion on it.
The saga has dominated headlines for the past three days, with AFL Commission chairman and former Geelong president Craig Drummond apologising over the deal earlier on Saturday.
Scott’s response
Scott addressed the issue after the Cats’ 67-point win over Essendon, answering questions for over four minutes on the subject.
“It’s interesting when people have opinions on it ... it almost suggests that they know more than me, which may well be the case, but I don’t know enough to give an informed opinion on it,” Scott said.
“And that’s a good description of my role versus someone’s role in the media or people kind of loosely involved in this sort of stuff. They’re entitled to an opinion ... I’d prefer it if it was a bit more informed.”
Scott said he “doesn’t follow the media that much” and couldn’t pinpoint when he was even told about the secret deal.
“Even the events of the last couple of days, I’m kind of loosely aware of it and I get a briefing, but I actually don’t want to know too much,” he said.
“I can’t remember exactly, but I would imagine I heard about it when it was made public. But even when I search my recollection of it, I can’t even remember the timing around it. That’s how far away I am from it.”
Kolodjashnij’s situation
Kolodjashnij’s name was initially kept private, but he ultimately outed himself on Friday night. Asked how the 30-year-old was coping with the situation, Scott said he didn’t want to air private conversations.
“I appreciate the question, but more and more I’m coming to the conclusion that private conversations and relationships shouldn’t be aired publicly,” he said.
“I know that there’s an interest in that, but it doesn’t mean I need to buy into it.”
Club’s process failure
Scott was asked further about the club not informing the AFL or AFLPA about the waiver, which Geelong CEO Steve Hocking on Friday described as a “misstep in the process”.
“It’s not my position to give an opinion on it. I’m one of the least-informed people here,” he said.
“I just think it’s really poor judgment for people to have an opinion or acknowledge or refute those sort of things without all the facts.”
Geelong are set to respond to the “please explain” this week, but Scott isn’t expecting to have any involvement.
“My take on these things is I’m brought in on the things where people think I need to be brought in ... and I haven’t been brought in to this point and I suspect I won’t be,” he said.
AFL chairman’s apology
Drummond issued a statement through the AFL on Saturday morning acknowledging the club had “gone too far” in including such a waiver.
“I was president of the Geelong Football Club in 2024,” Drummond said.
“This was an extremely complex and sensitive matter, and obligations to both the player and the club were very carefully considered by the Geelong board.
“Jake’s welfare was central to all discussions and I have been thinking of him particularly over the past few days.
“While the player was medically cleared to play, the club engaged in lengthy discussions including with him, his family, doctors, and insurers about his future and the potential risks of returning to play.
“Regardless of the player’s agreement, the club went too far in adding a waiver into an informed consent document and it will be removed.
“The waiver did not remove the player’s protections under statutory health and safety laws.
“As the club has also acknowledged, there was also a process failure in relation to lodgement of the agreement with the AFL and the AFLPA.
“I have not and will not be involved in any deliberation in relation to this matter and its assessment under the AFL rules and regulations.
“I apologise for the mistakes made in this very complex situation.”
Geelong initially didn’t receive a sanction from the AFL, who on Thursday said in a statement they were “satisfied that the letter was not used by Geelong to allow a medically unfit player to return to play”.
But on Friday, Hocking confirmed the club had received a ‘please explain’ from the AFL before Kolodjashnij came forward.
Scott also said he doesn’t think the ongoing saga had an impact on his players on Saturday, as they kicked the first 10 goals against Essendon on their way to a big 67-point victory.
