After days spent in the headlines, Jake Kolodjashnij has withdrawn himself from selection this weekend.
His withdrawal applies to both the club's AFL and VFL programs, and brings with it the time and space required to assess his options moving forward.
The 2022 premiership winner was managed out of Geelong's senior side in Round 19, managing one VFL appearance in the time since. Kolodjashnij has managed 11 appearances to date this season, after missing all of the 2025 campaign with groin, hip and back issues.
"Jake Kolodjashnij will be unavailable for selection at AFL or VFL level this weekend," Geelong said in a statement.
"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."
Via Geelong: pic.twitter.com/6nbP7WZlvG
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) August 11, 2026
His absence from football-related activities comes after he came forward as the player at the centre of Geelong's concussion controversy. Executives at Kardinia Park were handed a "please explain" by the AFL after it was revealed that a waiver had been signed by a player, absolving the club of any ramifications should further head knocks be absorbed by that player.
After speculation, Kolodjashnij announced in a statement that he was the player to which the waiver pertained.
"He was going along his business having chosen his path forward and wanting to play the game and understanding the risks and the circumstance that he was in," Geelong assistant coach and media pundit Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy on Monday night.
"With the advent of this revelation, his circumstances have changed quite significantly."
Notably, Jake's twin brother Kade retired from the league prematurely, citing concussion issues, in 2020.
Jake's footballing future remains up in the air now too, with his "voluntary assumption of risk" document now torn up by AFL power brokers, his club attempting to weasel their way out of responsibility for their veteran's long-term health, and his own desire (or lack thereof) to take the field, all factors.
