AFL addresses ‘shattered’ Elijah Hollands as Carlton supports him

AFL Supports Elijah Hollands After Disappointing Performance

An AFL spokesperson has confirmed that the league is offering support to Elijah Hollands following a challenging performance against Collingwood on Thursday night. The discussion between the AFL and Carlton has been initiated to ensure the best possible support for the 23-year-old player.

After the game, which ended in a five-point loss for the Blues, coach Michael Voss shared his thoughts on Hollands’ performance. He mentioned that the player was “shattered” and felt like he had “let people down.” However, Voss emphasized that the club is providing strong support to help Hollands through this difficult time.

Hollands played 75% of the match across the first three quarters. Initially, he was marked as not registering a single disposal. Later, Champion Data awarded him a possession for an ineffective kick during the third term. Despite this, he was eventually benched for most of the fourth quarter as Collingwood made a strong comeback from 18 points down to win.

Footage of Hollands during the game has circulated on social media, and Voss noted that Hollands was disappointed with his ineffective display. On Friday, the AFL confirmed that they have been in contact with Carlton to discuss how to best support Hollands and understand what happened during the game. “We are having ongoing discussions with Carlton and also ensuring Elijah has the relevant support,” said AFL spokesperson Jay Allen.

Coach’s Perspective on Hollands’ Performance

Michael Voss provided further insight into the situation after the game. He mentioned that he spoke to Hollands post-match, and the player was deeply disappointed with his start. “He was really upset and feels like he’s let me down. He was pretty emotional after the game. He didn’t play a great game and he struggled to get his way into it.”

Voss explained that Hollands was disappointed with his performance and felt he had let people down, especially given the importance of the game. “With the importance of the night, he feels like he’s let people down. But we just have to keep supporting people through those situations.”

The decision to bench Hollands in the final quarter was based on the need to find the right mix of players for the remaining five minutes. “He wasn’t having a great night. We obviously thought the best mix was to not have him out there.”

Mental Health and Career Challenges

Hollands has faced personal challenges in the past. He took personal leave from Carlton on two separate occasions last year and later revealed he had been battling mental ill-health and issues related to alcohol. At the end of the previous season, he was de-listed by the Blues but was invited to training over the summer and managed to earn his spot back.

This season, in six previous games, Hollands averaged 18.4 possessions per outing. His performance in the recent match, however, highlighted the need for continued support and understanding.