AFL Legends Question Carlton’s Investigation into Elijah Hollands Incident
AFL legends Jimmy Bartel and Matthew Lloyd have raised concerns about the way Carlton is handling the investigation into the Elijah Hollands incident, suggesting that the wrong person is leading the review. Their comments come at a time when the club’s top medical officer, Dr Matt Chamberlain, has taken personal leave and is reportedly considering legal action if found culpable.
The incident involving Hollands, who turned 24 years old on Saturday, shocked the AFL community when he played an entire game against Collingwood on April 16 despite displaying unusual behavior. Onlookers noticed his strange conduct during the match, and some Collingwood players even reported that they could smell alcohol on him. Despite this, Hollands had only one disposal in the five-point loss and was on the field for approximately 60% of the game.
Carlton initially denied that Hollands was affected by drugs or alcohol, attributing his behavior to a medical episode. However, he has since been admitted to the hospital for further evaluation.
The AFL has ordered a club review into how Carlton allowed Hollands to play the game and continue despite his erratic behavior. WorkSafe Victoria is also investigating the incident. The club appointed Chris Davies, who joined Carlton late last year as general manager of football, to lead the review. However, the AFL has requested additional information from the club after receiving the initial report.
Bartel has questioned whether Davies should be part of the investigation rather than leading it. He highlighted that Davies, as head of football, is responsible for everything related to the team on match day. This raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
“Why is he leading the charge, considering there would need to be a lot of questions directed towards him and his involvement in match day?” Bartel said on Nine’s Footy Classified. “You need to challenge what was his part, how did he handle things, did he get information, what was the chain of command?”
Lloyd echoed similar concerns, suggesting that an external party should oversee the investigation. He believes that honesty may not come from within Carlton or the AFL.
“I think it should be an external person do this,” Lloyd said on Footy Classified. “Because the honesty is not going to come to someone at Carlton. The honesty would come to someone outside Carlton.”
Dr Chamberlain, who has taken personal leave, is reportedly preparing to explore legal options if the investigation implicates him. His absence adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing situation.
Meanwhile, Hollands’ younger brother, Ollie, was pulled out of the weekend’s game in Perth. However, the Blues are hopeful that he will be able to face St Kilda on Saturday night.
Key Points from the Investigation
- The AFL has ordered a club review into how Carlton allowed Hollands to play despite his unusual behavior.
- WorkSafe Victoria is also investigating the incident.
- Chris Davies, the club’s general manager of football, is leading the internal review.
- Bartel and Lloyd have raised concerns about the impartiality of the review process.
- Dr Chamberlain has taken personal leave and may pursue legal action if implicated.
- The AFL has asked for clarification on several points from the club’s initial report.
What’s Next?
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring transparency and accountability. The AFL and Carlton must address the concerns raised by former players and ensure that the process is fair and independent. The outcome of the review will be crucial in determining whether lessons can be learned to prevent similar incidents in the future.
