GEELONG has been fined a total of $140,000 for its handling of the Jake Kolodjashnij concussion waiver.

Earlier this month, the Cats apologised after it emerged Kolodjashnij had signed a secret deal with the club where the defender effectively took on legal responsibility for future brain trauma.

The AFL issued the club with a 'please explain' over the incident and engaged an independent lawyer, James Peters KC, to review case after the Cats submitted their response.

>> READ THE FULL AFL STATEMENT AND FINDINGS HERE

Geelong was fined $100,000 for its actions over the concussion waiver. The remaining $40,000 was a suspended penalty arising from the club's failure to correctly report its third-party deals, following an investigation concluded in October last year. 

AFL chair Craig Drummond, who was the Cats' president at the time the agreement was signed, removed himself from the League's assessment of the case and apologised for the waiver, which he conceded "went too far".

Commissioner Paul Bassat said the AFL had accepted the review's findings. 

"The review found Geelong breached AFL Rules by entering into an unauthorised variation to a player's contract and failing to lodge that document with the AFL and AFLPA," Bassat said in a statement.

"The health and safety of our players is our highest priority and the Commission is satisfied it was central to the decisions made by the Geelong Football Club.

"While the review found no intention to conceal the document or deceive the AFL or AFLPA, the Commission determined the rules were breached and that a significant sanction was warranted.

"The Commission has imposed a $100,000 sanction and has additionally activated a previously suspended $40,000 sanction relating to a player contracting matter." 

Bassat said the AFL would consider the broader issues of informed consent from players when agreeing to take part in contact sport. 

"All clubs are expected to comply with the rules and processes designed to protect players and the integrity of the game," he said. 

"It is clear this incident goes beyond the breach of lodgement rules, and has raised broader issues to do with informed consent in playing contact sport and the paramount responsibilities for players’ health and safety.

"Working with the AFLPA, medical experts, and other stakeholders, the AFL will have more to say on these significant policy matters."

Kolodjashnij dealt with concussions during the 2024 season, but ultimately signed a two-year deal until the end of 2026.

His twin brother Kade, who played for Gold Coast and Melbourne, retired in 2020 due to concussion-related issues.

More to come