AFL club Geelong under scrutiny over alleged concussion deal with player

Player reportedly required to assume liability for future brain trauma.

AFL Players’ Association chief executive James Gallagher said the reported deal could be in breach of both competition rules and Australian law. Pic: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The Geelong Cats have been named as the club behind a reported deal with a player – who had suffered a history of concussion – that would allow them to keep playing if the club was protected from future liabilities.

On Thursday morning, The Herald Sun first reported the arrangement without naming the club, but by the afternoon the Cats had been identified by multiple media outlets. The club has been contacted for comment.

AFL Players’ Association chief executive James Gallagher said the reported deal could be in breach of both competition rules and Australian law. 

“The game has a duty to provide a workplace that protects the health, safety, and wellbeing of players and all clubs hold this duty as employers,” he said.

“Clubs cannot unilaterally contract out of their obligations under the CBA and standard playing contract, nor attempt to avoid their responsibilities under health and safety laws.

“Importantly, no player is permitted to return to play or train unless they have been deemed medically fit to do so. We’re in discussions with the AFL to better understand the circumstances of this case and ensure this issue isn’t replicated further at the elite level.”  The Herald Sun reported of the so-called “secret deal”, made two years ago, with a player who had suffered multiple concussions to assume legal responsibility for any on-field brain injury, adding the arrangement was cleared by the board.

Former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson told SEN the report shocked him.

“It’s hard to really fathom how you would get to the conclusion that this is a good thing to do, and how it goes up the chain?” he said. “I can’t see how you would accept that is the right thing to do for your son or your player.” 

Geelong’s chair at the time was Craig Drummond, who has subsequently been appointed chair of the AFL Commission.

The AFL and Geelong have been contacted for comment.

Guardian