Carlton views Elijah Hollands’ erratic performance on Thursday night as a mental health episode rather than the player being under the influence of any substances.
Hollands felt like he “let people down” after an erratic performance in his side’s loss to Collingwood, according to coach Michael Voss, as the AFL steps in to ensure the Blue “has the relevant support.”
Hollands finished Thursday night’s game at the MCG with just one disposal from 60 per cent game time, and crowd footage of him behaving in an unusual way on the field circulated on social media.
Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
In a statement released at 5pm AEST on Friday evening, the Blues said: “The Carlton Football Club is continuing to provide close and ongoing care to Elijah Hollands, who suffered a mental health episode on Thursday night.
“The 23-year-old is continuing to receive the appropriate level of medical and wellbeing support, with Hollands’ welfare remaining the number one priority.
“The club also remains in contact with the AFL and the AFLPA, given the complicated nature of what occurred on Thursday night.
“While the Club acknowledges the public interest, it asks that Hollands’ privacy be respected, with the primary focus on ensuring he receives the level of care he needs, before a further update can be provided at an appropriate time.”
Earlier on Friday afternoon, SEN first reported Carlton is of the view that Hollands was the “victim of a mental health episode.”
The Herald Sun also reports the club has undergone an extensive review of Hollands — both in the lead up to the game and what happened on the night — in consultation with the AFL and medical experts.
The reported conclusion was that the unusual behaviour displayed by Hollands, who’s previously opened up on his mental health battles, was a medical issue.
Despite the public interest, the Blues are prioritising Hollands’ wellbeing and have asked for sensitivity on the issue while they do their background work and give the necessary support to the 23-year old.
The AFL confirmed it’d been in touch with the Blues, who are yet to release an official statement or hold a press conference specifically on the matter.
“We are having on-going discussions with Carlton and also ensuring Elijah has the relevant support,” AFL spokesperson Jay Allen said in a statement.
The AFL Players’ Association is absolutely concerned with what played out on Thursday night and how it got to that point.
They’ve spoken with the AFL, Carlton and Hollands’ management.
The welfare of Hollands, who fought to win back a list spot at Carlton last off-season, is seen as the main priority for all parties involved.
The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph initially reported post-match that the club’s “official position is that Hollands had an off night” after he spent the majority of the fourth quarter on the bench.
Concerns raised for Elijah Holland | 01:03
READ MORE
‘Feel sorry for the lad’: What Pies champ told ‘shattered’ Blue as class act revealed after big miss
‘Evidence they’ve put in front of everyone’: McRae’s Blues jab after epic Pies heist
Reality Collingwood can’t keep ignoring about its future. The next move is critical — In and Under
Kangaroos legend David King said on radio on Friday morning the football and personal issues should be separated, questioning why Hollands wasn’t pulled from the game earlier.
“We have to support the kid; he is clearly in a bad place,” King said on SEN.
“From a football point of view, the responsibility of the line coach or head coach to see this problem in real time and the fact it was unchecked for three quarters alarms me.
“I don’t understand how so many people in the stadium can see he is not contributing to this game. He was not assisting his team, he couldn’t get his hands on the footy, he was rattled, he was out of position, why did he play three quarters?”
Voss said post-match Hollands was “pretty shattered with his game”.
“I spoke to him after the game and he was really disappointed with how he’s started the game. Really upset, sort of feels like he’s let me down,” Voss said.
“Had a good chat with him so he was pretty emotional after the game. Didn’t play a great game and he struggled to get his way into it, he was clearly really disappointed in his performance and obviously really important to the night.
“He sort of feels like he’s let people down but we’ve got to keep supporting people through those situations.”
Hollands ended the match on the bench, with Voss explaining: “He was clearly disappointed with himself and he was disappointed with how he was playing.
“When it comes to the last quarter, you’ve obviously got to work out what mix you’ve got with five minutes to go, about what you want on the field and he wasn’t having a great night. Constant conversations with him, and we obviously thought the best mix was to not have him out there.”
Speaking on Fox Footy’spost-game coverage, Ralph explained what was known in the minutes after the match.
“This is one we need to deal with with some sensitivity,” he said.
Voss speaks on Holland’s ‘off night’ | 12:15
“He (Hollands) seemed to run around for about 60 per cent of game time without a possession.
“There is footage which is quite disturbing and we won’t show you – throwing the bird at teammates. Certainly it seemed at one stage he seemed to be in the Collingwood huddle.
“We know he’s had his issues with mental health, he’s spoken really bravely about his battles with alcohol issues as a result of that. We’ll ask Michael Voss, they can tell us what they can.
“Some people will ask the question, did they do enough to be aware of the fact he’s in the right state to come out here? He didn’t seem to know what was going out there and in fact he finished the game on the bench.
“The footage of him throwing the bird more to the crowd, to the fans, to his teammates, it is disturbing and we won’t show that to you.”
Star marched for finger point dissent! | 00:39
Ralph later said Hollands “was talking to Collingwood players about not being at 100 per cent” and expects the AFL to look into the situation.
“They are clearly working with an issue which has extreme sensitivity there,” he said.
“I understand it’s going to be titillating for people to look at that footage, but their view is he’s battled anxiety which he has spoken about before.
“It’s not something we’ve seen in some time. Clearly they will have their care for him.
“Michael Voss spoke to him at length post-match. They’ll work through whatever issues there are.
“At the same time in concert with that, the AFL will work through whether he was in a fit state and whether anyone did anything wrong – we understand football clubs, they have the care of their players at best heart.
“If they had any view that he was not in 100% control before they put him out there, they would not have played him.
“It’s a really complex issue – it’s one we’ll deal with with some sensitivity. Even the Collingwood players, he was talking to them about not being 100%. Let’s use that expression.
“It will play out in coming days.
“But we’ll also be aware he’s worked so hard to get himself back and has battled with mental health which he has been so honest about. So a challenge for the industry to deal with it in the right way.”
