AFL: Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij enters concussion protocols and will miss clash with Melbourne

Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij is officially out of Thursday night’s blockbuster clash with reigning premier Melbourne after entering concussion protocols. The Cats subbed Kolodjashnij out of the club’s 112-point demolition of North Melbourne on Saturday night after a head knock, with veteran Shaun Higgins replacing him. Coach Chris Scott was unsure post-match whether the 26-year-old sustained a concussion or not but Geelong confirmed on Sunday he would have to complete the AFL’s minimum 12-day protocols. That rules Kolodjashnij out of the top-of-the-table showdown with the Demons, who not only pinched the minor premiership off the Cats in round 23 last year but also thrashed them in their preliminary final. “It’s a privilege to be involved in these big games where there’s pressure and expectation,” Scott said. “The town on Thursday night will be out of control – everything sold and it will just be absolutely pumping and it’s just great to be involved in those games. “They’re good practice for when the heat’s on later in the year (and) it’s a reflection that we’ve been able to hang in there this year to be in a position where we’re considered one of the contenders against the best team in the competition. “I’m looking forward to it. We should run towards that pressure and embrace it.” Geelong is guaranteed to make at least two changes, with Joel Selwood (managed) and Sam De Koning (cork) to return, a week after Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Rohan resumed. “We don’t think we’ve had great cohesion with some of our best players, so obviously that’s going to continue, with (Tom) Stewart being out for another three weeks,” Scott said. “Selwood and De Koning will come back next week. I think it’s the second game for the year we’ve had (Tyson) Stengle, Rohan, (Tom) Hawkins and (Jeremy) Cameron all together. “So, it is important over the next couple of months that we work on that cohesion. We don’t feel like we’ve got much time to waste, so we’ll try not to focus too much on thinking about next week. “(The message will be) ‘Don’t focus too much on the scoreboard; let’s just keep working on our game’, because there are still some big areas of improvement, we think.”