Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast
Monologue: The Cost of Consent - Concussion, Vocation and the Assumption of Risk
Send us Fan Mail This episode picks up where our last one left off, brief update new developments in the Geelong concussion waiver case. But the real focus is bigger than one club: we're unpacking what "they accept the risk" actually means, why professional sport gets treated as a calling rather than a job, and what that costs players when it comes to consent, tax structures, and basic workplace protection. We'll hold both sides of that argument up fairly, and test it against how any other Australian workplace would be judged for doing the same thing. 03:44 – New Developments 08:44 – The Debate on Player Accepting the Risk 14:27 – Vocation vs Job Perspective in Sport 20:29 – Taxation and Financial Structures in Professional Sports 23:20 – Workers Compensation and Athlete Protections 28:10 – Taxation and Risk 32:53 - Comparative Analysis of Workplace Safety and Sports 38:51 – Conclusion REFERENCE LIST 1. “Geelong to face significant financial sanction over concussion waiver.” SEN, 8 August 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/08/08/afl-2026-afl-ceo-andrew-dillon-speaks-on-geelongs-secret-concussion-waiver-with-jake-kolodjashnij 2. “Timeline becomes clearer as Geelong Cats prepare response to AFL's please explain over Jake Kolodjashnij concussion waiver.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1582383/timeline-becomes-clearer-as-geelong-cats-prepare-response-to-afls-please-explain-over-jake-kolodjashnij-concussion-waiver 3. “Geelong ‘welcomes’ AFL please explain as captain responds to concussion waiver debacle.” Yahoo Sport Australia / Zero Hanger. https://au.sports.yahoo.com/geelong-welcomes-afl-please-explain-013608927.html ; https://www.zerohanger.com/geelong-cats-patrick-dangerfield-captain-responds-to-concussion-waiver-debacle-backs-in-ceo-181057/ 4. “Cats board hold crisis meeting over concussion deal.” AAP, via Inverell Times / Moree Champion. https://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/9327256/cats-board-hold-crisis-meeting-over-concussion-deal/ 5. “Cats board meets to discuss concussion controversy.” K ROCK 95.5. https://www.krock.com.au/national/geelong-cats/cats-board-meets-to-discuss-concussion-controversy/ 6. “AFL delivers fresh concussion saga statement.” Zero Hanger, 11 August 2026 (Andrew Dillon's 'club obligations' memo; Craig Drummond's full statement). https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-delivers-fresh-concussion-saga-statement-181096/ 7. Nichol, Matt. “Not-for-profit organisations and the tax status of professional sport: Revisiting the exemption status of the Australian Football League and its clubs.” CQUniversity. https://acquire.cqu.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Not-for-profit_organisations_and_the_tax_status_of_professional_sport_Revisiting_the_exemption_status_of_the_Australian_Football_League_and_its_clubs/28755494 8. 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Windholz, Eric. “Why sports stars get less support than other injured workers – and how we can fix it.” Monash Lens / The Conversation. https://lens.monash.edu/why-sports-stars-get-less-support-than-other-injured-workers-and-how-we-can-fix-it/ ; https://theconversation.com/why-sports-stars-get-less-support-than-other-injured-workers-and-how-we-can-fix-it-200702 11. “Injured sports stars are not entitled to workers' compensation. How we can fix the problem.” SmartCompany (Eric Windholz). https://www.smartcompany.com.au/people-human-resources/injured-sports-stars-not-entitled-workers-compensation/ 12. Windholz, Eric. “Professional athletes and injury insurance: A better way forward.” Sport, Business and Management, 2025. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1037969X251337131 13. “The future of injury insurance and workers' compensation in Australian sport.” Monash University Faculty of Law. https://www.monash.edu/law/news/articles/2021/the-future-of-injury-insurance-and-workers-compensation-in-australian-sport 14. “WHS and pro athletes: the next frontier in regulation.” Citation Group. https://citationgroup.com.au/resources/whs-and-the-professional-athlete-the-final-frontier-for-workplace-regulation/ 15. “Chapter 4: Coverage and eligibility for benefits” and “Table 4.4: Treatment of sportspersons and sporting injuries.” Safe Work Australia. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/book/comparison-wc-arrangements-29ed/chapter-4 ; https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/book/comparison-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-2021-28th-edition/chapter-4-coverage-and-eligibility-benefits/table-44-treatment-sportspersons-and-sporting-injuries 16. Riewoldt, Nick. “What happens during AFL contract negotiations?” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/16111020/nick-riewoldt-happens-afl-contract-negotiations 17. Riewoldt, Nick. “My experiences with concussion.” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/15180632/my-experiences-concussion 18. “Don't knock concussion protocols: Riewoldt.” AFL Players' Association. https://www.aflplayers.com.au/news-feed/stories/dont-knock-concussion-protocols-riewoldt
