Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has called for the resignation of Craig Drummond as chair of the AFL Commission following revelations about a secret concussion agreement involving the Geelong Football Club. The AFL recently fined Geelong $140,000 after it was found that the club failed to lodge a waiver signed in 2024 by player Jake Kolodjashnij. The waiver involved Kolodjashnij signing away his legal rights to claim compensation for injuries related to head knocks.
Mr Drummond, who was Geelong’s club president at the time of the agreement, along with club chief executive Steve Hocking, have not faced personal penalties. The AFL’s investigation, led by independent KC James Peters, concluded that there was no intentional concealment or deceptive behavior by Geelong or its officials. The commission stated that the club did not attempt to hide the agreement or mislead the AFL or AFL Players’ Association and found no improper conduct necessitating further sanctions.
Despite these findings, Kennett, who is a former president of Hawthorn, a rival club, described the AFL’s response as inadequate. He criticized the league for protecting the club over individual accountability, stating that no amount of fines could compensate for the failure to hold those responsible to account. Kennett asserted that Drummond’s involvement in the waiver has compromised his authority, making it untenable for him to lead efforts to improve governance within the AFL. He said Drummond “cannot possibly tell anyone else what to do” given his role in what he described as a decision that endangered a player’s welfare.
Kennett acknowledged Drummond’s professional reputation as a capable and honest executive, noting his previous leadership roles at Medibank and Transurban, but emphasized that the concussion issue had left him “stripped bare” of influence within the AFL environment. Transurban, where Drummond currently serves as chair, declined to comment on the matter.
The fine imposed on Geelong included a $100,000 immediate penalty and a $40,000 suspended fine related to previous compliance issues flagged in last year’s AFL audit concerning third-party agreements. Under AFL rules, all player agreements involving potential liability waivers must be lodged with the league due to the tripartite nature of player contracts, which involve the player, the club, and the AFL.
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who has publicly criticized Geelong’s handling of the waiver, expressed backing for Drummond’s continuation as AFL chair. McGuire noted that Kolodjashnij played every game in the previous season without concussion concerns and supported the club’s decision to seek legal protections, though he acknowledged the club’s failure to properly include the waiver in the contract.
The incident has sparked debate over governance practices in the AFL and the balance between protecting player welfare and managing legal exposure for clubs. Drummond’s future as commission chair now faces increased scrutiny amid calls for greater accountability in the league.