Geelong have been handed a massive $140,000 fine for adding a concussion clause to the contract of veteran defender Jake Kolodjashnij and failing to lodge it with the AFL.

But the club has been spared any additional sanctions for the serious rule breach.

Geelong CEO Steve Hocking, who initially described the incident as “misstep”, and AFL chairman Craig Drummond, who was Geelong president at the time, have also escaped sanction.

The fine includes an extra $40,000, which was suspended from a previous sanction for a series of third-party payments.

Kolodjashnij signed a “voluntary assumption of risk” outside of the AFL’s standard playing contract and required the defender to assume legal responsibility for any future head trauma.

The agreement was struck after the AFL’s independent concussion panel delivered an “amber” reading, which put Kolodjashnij’s future back in the hands of the player and club.

The AFL commission, not including chair Drummond, met on Wednesday night to decide the penalty.

Geelong had hoped to not have the extra $40,000 included in the sanction, which was hanging over the club following a $77,500 fine last year after an AFL audit into the club’s third-party agreements.

The amount will be paid into the AFL and AFLPA Players’ Injury and Support Fund in addition to the AFL’s existing commitment to that fund.

Drummond, who was Geelong president when the deal with Kolodjashnij, had removed himself from the process.

The AFL initially decided against any penalty when they first addressed the incident, but then quickly issued a ‘please explain’ to the Cats.

Geelong responded before the AFL brought in an independent legal counsel, James Peters KC, to help decide the sanctions.

The Cats maintained they acted in good faith, and had discussions with the AFL when they struck the controversial agreement with Kolodjashnij in 2024.

But they never lodged the final agreement with the AFL and failed to disclose the situation with the AFLPA.

Peters KC found the failure by Geelong to lodge the variation was an oversight. His review also found the club had consulted “extensively” with the AFL.

“The review found Geelong had given careful and detailed consideration to the risk of Kolodjashnij continuing to play following an uncertain outcome from the AFL Concussion Panel, and consulted extensively with the AFL, club doctors, lawyers, insurers, and Kolodjashnij and his family,” the AFL said in a statement.

“The form of the letter ultimately agreed between Geelong and Kolodjashnij was not provided to the AFL or AFLPA and it was not lodged as required under AFL rules. “The review found Geelong did not intend to conceal the existence of the agreement or deceive the AFL or AFLPA.  “It further found there was no inappropriate or improper conduct warranting additional action under AFL rules by either Geelong or AFL representatives and made no adverse findings in relation to the club’s decision to enter into an agreement with the player to mitigate its legal exposure. “It also found that Kolodjashnij was not coerced into signing the letter.”

Meanwhile, Kolodjashnij returned to training this week although there is still no clarity whether he has been cleared to play.

The 2022 premiership player hasn’t played at AFL or VFL level since details emerged of his secret deal with the Cats.

After missing the 2025 season due to groin, hip and back issues, the 31-year-old has made 11 AFL appearances this year.

Kolodjashnij was managed out of the team in Round 19 and has played one game in the VFL since.

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

Instead of receiving a definitive answer when forced to face the AFL concussion panel in 2024, Kolodjashnij was left in limbo about playing on or retiring.

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

Multiple AFL players, including former Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw, champion West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern and former No.1 pick Paddy McCartin, were forced into retirement due to repeated concussions.

— with AAP