Geelong are bracing for a potentially massive penalty as they prepare to submit their reply to the AFL's 'please explain' over the secret concussion deal with Jake Kolodjashnij.
Amid speculation over the futures of Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking and AFL Chairman Craig Drummond, the club board held a crisis meeting on Monday morning to determine its response to the league.
Also on Monday, Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield said the club had "buggered up", but strongly defended Hocking.
Pressure has mounted on Geelong and the AFL since it emerged last Thursday that the Cats struck an agreement with Kolodjashnij, who had a history of concussion, that went unsighted by the league and the AFL Players Association (AFLPA).
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon on Monday sent a memo to club chief executives, urging any with concerns over similar arrangements outside of standard player contracts to lodge them with the AFL and AFLPA.
"We acknowledge this has been a challenging time for Jake, our club and Geelong supporters," Cats president Grant McCabe said in a Monday morning statement.
"The board has met this morning to discuss our response to the AFL's letter, that will be submitted by end of day Tuesday, 11 August.
"This will provide the club with the chance to detail the actions it took in navigating this complex matter. We welcome this opportunity.
"The club remains committed to providing our players with the highest standard of care and support."
Hocking was Cats chief executive and Drummond club president when the deal was struck two years ago with Koladjashnij.
The Geelong defender signed a waiver that meant he effectively took on legal responsibility for future brain trauma in a bid to exonerate the club and its medical staff from potential court action.
In Monday's memo, clubs were reminded that any agreements outside the standard playing contract needed to be lodged with the AFL.
Any arrangement without league approval would be treated as ineffective or unenforceable.
Over the weekend, Hocking defended the club in a radio interview and argued there was not a lot they would do differently, describing the case as a complex matter.
"As a leader it's really important to take ownership and just lead through this. It's not easy to do, but I wouldn't change too much - we are a really good football club," Hocking said.
"I know there are people out there who say culturally we are maybe not as strong as we have been, but we do so much right and occasionally there might be one or two per cent we don't get right.
"In this case that will be proven, I would suggest, that will be proven with the please explain. We don't get everything right."
Drummond has also released a statement, apologising over the deal. He added he would not be involved in the AFL's assessment and deliberation of the Kolodjashnij situation.
On Monday, Dangerfield told FoxFooty that Hocking was one of the most "placid" people he had met and gave him his full support.
"He's a man of the highest integrity ... we're lucky to have him," Dangerfield said.
But Dangerfield acknowledged mistakes had been made.
"Clearly there were some parts that we buggered up as a club, we can be better," he said.
