Geelong doctor James McLaren has been stood down by the club following allegations of improper conduct both at the club and away from it.
7NEWS reporter Tom Morris revealed Dr McLaren, who has been with the Cats for five years, was quietly removed from his position in recent weeks.
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There is no suggestion the allegations are true, only that they have been made.
McLaren was one of two doctors at the club when the Jake Kolodjashnij situation unfolded a couple of years ago.
“I can also tell you that he’s not expected to return, which, only adds to the drama at the Cats on the eve of the finals, and more uncertainty in the medical wing of the Cats, which has been a talking point among other clubs in recent times,” Morris said on The Agenda Setters.
“Now, I expect them to go out to the market and find a new chief medical officer, but this hasn’t been an easy process for them, and it’s probably fair to say that there’s been quite a bit of uncertainty and upheaval in this department, and this only adds to it.”
Morris also highlighted the Cats’ recent handling of an injury when Zach Guthrie copped a big knock in the Round 20 match against Melbourne.
Guthrie came from the field and was ultimately cleared to return, but it still prompted an “unofficial investigation” from the AFL.
“The AFL asked a few questions of Geelong and how this was handled, whether he should have gone to hospital, whether he should have got different treatment, particularly given the Christian Petrarca situation a couple of years ago,” Morris continued.
“The AFL has come back and said to Geelong, that was all handled OK. That was by Dr James McLaren, but nevertheless, it prompted the league to investigate unofficially.”
The decision to stand down McLaren is not related to the Guthrie incident or the Kolodjashnij saga.
The Agenda Setters contacted McLaren for comment, but he declined through a third party.
Meanwhile, the Cats are expected to a receive a six-figure fine for putting the concussion waiver in Kolodjashnij’s contract.
Kolodjashnij signed a waiver indemnifying the Cats and club medicos from any future concussion-related liability. The waiver has since been removed.
The AFL and an independent KC are still investigating the situation.
“My understanding is that Geelong will receive a six-figure fine from the AFL, but it won’t be the massive fine that was being predicted at the start of this saga, and I think that no official will be sanctioned by the AFL,” Caroline Wilson reported on The Agenda Setters.
Kolodjashnij, meanwhile, is unlikely to play again this year despite playing a key role in the AFL and VFL’s side surge into finals.
