Concern for Carlton's Elijah Hollands After Concerning On-Field Display
There is significant concern for the welfare of Carlton midfielder Elijah Hollands following his visibly out-of-sorts appearance during his team's loss to Collingwood on Friday night. Hollands managed just one disposal, which occurred in the third quarter, despite playing 60 per cent of the game. By three-quarter time, he had increased his game time to 75 per cent, but his performance remained notably subdued.
Alarm Bells Ring Over Unusual Behavior
Alarm bells began ringing when fan-filmed footage emerged, showing Hollands acting unusually in Carlton's forward 50. This prompted immediate reactions from commentators and fans alike. 7Sport's Tom Morris highlighted the situation, stating, "Elijah Hollands is unfortunately one of the biggest stories of the night. Carlton will need to lean into the welfare component, but also offer some sort of explanation to its fans."
Hollands had fought his way back onto the Blues' list during the pre-season after being delisted in October, despite having a year remaining on his contract. Carlton offered him the opportunity to train with the club, aiming to secure his spot through the pre-season supplemental period (SSP).
Background of Off-Field Struggles
The midfielder was traded to Carlton from Gold Coast at the end of 2023 but played only 27 games in his first two seasons. He faced off-field issues that coach Michael Voss described as "disappointing" for the club. Last August, 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed that the Blues had asked Hollands to explore his options after a challenging year.
This period included two stints away from the game on personal leave:
- He first took leave just before the 2025 season, returning in Round 6 to play five consecutive games.
- He stepped away again in May, later earning praise from Voss for preparing to play VFL football upon his return.
Hollands played two VFL games late in the season and expressed a positive outlook on his future before being advised to consider other opportunities.
