Unusual Behavior Raises Concerns for Carlton Midfielder Elijah Hollands
Carlton midfielder Elijah Hollands has been the subject of growing concern after a troubling performance during Thursday night’s clash with Collingwood. The 23-year-old player, known for his strong presence on the field, struggled significantly in the match, which ended in an 88–83 loss for the Blues.
Hollands played a substantial amount of time across the first three quarters but managed only one disposal, a highly unusual statistic for a player of his caliber. His performance was further complicated by a retrospective addition to his record, where he was credited with a single possession after an ineffective kick in the third term. This lack of impact left many observers questioning what was happening behind the scenes.
Throughout the final quarter, Hollands spent much of his time on the bench as Collingwood made a dramatic comeback, overcoming an 18-point deficit at the final break to secure the win. However, it wasn’t just his poor performance that raised concerns.
Fan-filmed footage circulating online appeared to show Hollands behaving unusually in Carlton’s forward 50, with multiple observers noting he looked out of character during passages of play. Some fans commented on his erratic movements and described him as not looking like himself during the second half of the game.
One fan expressed frustration, stating, “I don’t understand how this can even happen.” Another added, “They better look after him now because he needs serious help.” Many others shared their disappointment, saying, “This is so unfortunate considering he had a really good couple of games.”
Further footage showed Hollands heading up the tunnel and onto the field before the match, making erratic hand gestures along the way. A fan posted, “Carlton walkout to the banner, you can see Elijah Holland’s body and hand movements weren’t right even before the game.” The fan also suggested, “Carlton are in deep trouble. The AFL can’t hide what everyone can clearly see.”
Post-match reports indicated that Hollands had been closely monitored, with his heart rate checked during the game and difficulty sleeping the night before reported. It was also said that he was “in a pretty bad way post-match,” prompting ongoing attention from club staff.
Carlton coach Michael Voss addressed Hollands’ performance after the game, confirming the player was deeply affected by the night. “He’s pretty shattered with his game,” Voss said. “I spoke to him after the game and he was really disappointed with how he started the game, really upset, sort of feels like he’s let me down.”
Voss noted that Hollands struggled to work his way into the contest and remained in regular communication with coaches during the match. “He didn’t play a great game and he struggled to get his way into it,” he said. “He feels obviously clearly really disappointed with his performance, and obviously with the importance of the night, he feels like he’s let people down.”
The coach also explained the decision to keep Hollands on the bench late in the game. “When it comes to the last quarter, you’ve obviously got to work out what mix you’ve got with five minutes to go and what you want on the field,” Voss said. “He wasn’t having a great night, so we were in constant conversations with him. We obviously thought the best mix was to not have him out there.”
Additional reports suggested that Hollands had spoken to opposition players during the match about not feeling at full capacity, though this has not been formally confirmed by the club. There were also claims that some of the circulating footage was considered sensitive, with broadcasters opting not to show certain vision.
Carlton’s official position following the match was that Hollands had experienced an “off night,” while also emphasizing ongoing support for the player. The situation comes after a challenging period in Hollands’ career. The former Gold Coast midfielder took personal leave on multiple occasions during the 2025 season and later revealed he had been dealing with mental health issues and alcohol-related struggles.
He was subsequently delisted by Carlton despite having time remaining on his contract, before being invited back to train during the pre-season. Hollands earned his way back onto the list through the supplemental selection period and had played every game this season prior to Thursday night, averaging more than 18 disposals per match.
Carlton, now 1–5 to start the season, will next face Fremantle on Anzac Day in Perth.
