This is the 798th most frequent Estonian word.
kaela
The Estonian word "kaela" means "neck" (in the genitive or partitive case).
Here, 'kaelas' means 'around one's neck' and indicates the position of the scarf.
Tal oli sall kaelas.
He had a scarf around his neck.
In this phrase, 'kaela võtma' (literally 'to take on one's neck') is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to take on responsibility'.
Sa ei pea seda vastutust oma kaela võtma.
You do not have to take this responsibility upon your shoulders.
Here, 'kaela' indicates the physical target onto which something (the ball) is thrown.