Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Geelong coach Chris Scott says he hasn’t been given any indication on whether Jake Kolodjashnij will return to playing at any level next week as the Cats await the AFL’s findings on their concussion saga.
The Cats last week responded to a ‘please explain’ notice from the AFL regarding their secret deal with Kolodjashnij, a defender with a history of concussions.
In 2024, Kolodjashnij signed a waiver that meant he effectively took on legal responsibility for future brain trauma in a bid to exonerate the club and its medical staff from potential court action.
Kolodjashnij, who on August 8 identified himself as the player involved in the concussion deal, was made unavailable for selection at both AFL and VFL this weekend.
The AFL has hired independent legal counsel to help decide on the case and findings are expected early in the coming week.
The deal, which was not lodged with the AFL and AFL Players Association, has put pressure on Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking and former Cats president and current AFL Commission chair Craig Drummond.
Scott has previously said he was kept at arm’s length regarding the deal with Kolodjashnij.
Asked after Geelong’s 15-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday if there had been any update on when the club would hear from the AFL, Scott said: “Not that I know of.
“The people dealing with it may well have.
“But they don’t feed that back to me, which I appreciate.”
In his Wednesday press conference, Scott refused to go into the exact reasons why Kolodjashnij, who is out of contract at season’s end and faces an uncertain future, had been ruled out this week.
On Saturday, Scott was asked whether he had been given any indication whether Kolodjashnij would come back into contention next week.
“Again, I haven’t, but that’s not to say that there hasn’t been communication,” the two-time premiership coach said.
“I’m just not privy to that communication.”
Kolodjashnij has played 11 AFL games this season, but was managed out of the team in round 19 and has since made one appearance in the VFL.
When asked if he’d been keeping in touch with Kolodjashnij on a personal level, Scott said: “Yeah, but I don’t like talking about those things publicly, but I appreciate you asking.”
The Cats finish their regular season against Richmond at GMHBA Stadium next Saturday before turning their attention to finals.
