Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij medically retired after concussion battle
Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij has been medically retired from AFL football because of concussion.
The Cats confirmed the call on 29 September, closing a 209-game career across 13 seasons at the elite level. Kolodjashnij is 31. He played 11 senior games in 2026 and was part of Geelong's 2022 premiership side, according to the ABC.
Geelong published its own farewell, titled 'Thank you Jake | Kolodjashnij Retires', at Geelong Cats. The decision followed fresh neurology scans and tests. He was contracted until the end of 2026 on a two-year deal, signed after he dealt with concussions during the 2024 season.
His retirement follows weeks of scrutiny over a secret waiver in his 2024 Geelong contract. The waiver required Kolodjashnij to take all legal responsibility for future brain trauma so he could keep playing. He identified himself as the player involved after news broke in early August that Geelong had struck a secret deal with a player with a history of concussion.
Kolodjashnij played senior and VFL football for Geelong earlier in 2026. He did not feature at either level after the waiver story emerged.
The AFL fined Geelong $140,000 for failing to officially notify the league about the waiver, as reported by AFL.com.au. The penalty comprised a $100,000 fine plus a $40,000 suspended sanction dating to October 2025. The sanctions stemmed from an AFL investigation into the club's third-party agreements.
As part of that process, the AFL engaged an independent lawyer to review Geelong's handling of the case. Coach Chris Scott declined to speculate on Kolodjashnij's future while that scrutiny was ongoing.
Kolodjashnij made his name as a key defender, the tall back whose job is to stand on the opposition's most dangerous forwards and stop the mark or the shot. His twin brother Kade, who played for Gold Coast and Melbourne, also retired because of concussion.
For fans, this is a quiet exit for a reliable player. Kolodjashnij rarely chased the spotlight. He held his place by reading the flight early and spoiling cleanly.
