Geelong Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij will sit out of both AFL and VFL action this weekend as the club navigates the immense fallout from an ongoing scandal involving an unregistered contract waiver.

The Cats faced a Tuesday deadline to deliver a formal response to the AFL’s "please explain" directive over the secret agreement, which was uncovered last week. The waiver, signed two years ago, reportedly shifted legal responsibility for potential future brain trauma from the club and its medical staff onto the player. Neither the AFL nor the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) had any knowledge of the document's existence before it came to light.

A Club Under Scrutiny

The controversy has thrown the Geelong board into crisis mode, triggering an emergency meeting on Monday. Pressure is mounting on senior officials, including chief executive Steve Hocking and former club president Craig Drummond, who were leading the club when the agreement was finalized. The waiver has since been stripped from Kolodjashnij's current contract.

In a statement released late on Tuesday, Geelong confirmed the 31-year-old would not be selected for round 23 fixtures. "The care and wellbeing of Jake remains the club's priority, and the club will continue to support him and his family through this period," the statement read.

AFL Appoints Legal Counsel

Reports suggest the AFL Commission has enlisted independent legal counsel to determine the appropriate sanctions against Geelong for bypassing official league protocols. The investigation marks a critical moment for the AFL as it continues to strengthen its protocols surrounding player head trauma.

Kolodjashnij, a 209-game veteran drafted in 2013, last played at AFL level against GWS a month ago. The issue of head injuries is particularly close to home for the defender; his twin brother, Kade, was forced to retire from the AFL in 2020 following a battle with ongoing concussion symptoms.