Delisted Carlton midfielder Elijah Hollands has broken silence following a mental health episode during an AFL match against Collingwood, releasing an emotional statement confirming his official departure from the club on Wednesday. According to sources, Hollands has not played football at any level since being hospitalized after the Round 6 clash in April, an incident that subsequently led to a $75,000 fine for the Blues by employment watchdog WorkSafe and the AFL.
## The Statement and Career Reflection
Hollands shared his thoughts on Instagram after Carlton confirmed his departure, admitting that his professional football career did not follow the path he envisioned as an 18-year-old. According to the sources, Hollands wrote that football has been everything he lived and breathed due to his family’s deep roots in the sport, noting his father, great-grandfather, and brother all played professionally. “I have only ever wanted to do one thing my entire life: copy what was done before me and play AFL footy,” Hollands wrote in his statement. “And now, unfortunately, that purpose I had is no longer.”
Despite the abrupt end to his time at the Blues, Hollands expressed gratitude for sharing the stage with his brother, Oliver Hollands. According to the sources, he wrote that playing in front of 90,000 people at the MCG alongside his sibling remains a special memory he will always cherish.
## Background on the April Incident and League Penalties
The 24-year-old midfielder was admitted to the hospital days after the Round 6 Thursday night match against Collingwood, where sources reported he displayed erratic behavior on the field and recorded just one ineffective disposal in 60 per cent game time. According to the sources, the AFL subsequently fined Carlton $75,000 in May for allowing Hollands to remain on the field during the loss. The governing body stated there were sufficient visual cues, performance data, and knowledge of the player’s individual circumstances to indicate that Hollands should have been removed from the match earlier, according to the sources. According to the sources, he played 33 games in three seasons at the Blues. After being delisted at the end of the 2025 season, Hollands was re-selected by Carlton during the pre-season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) after being given the opportunity to win his spot back. However, his on-field career has now concluded with a total of 47 AFL games. According to his statement, Hollands intends to focus on his personal health and well-being moving forward. “I love this game, but I have come to realise that there are things in my life that are far more important than footy right now, and they’re the things I will now prioritise,” he wrote, as cited by the sources.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Why did Elijah Hollands leave Carlton? Elijah Hollands officially parted ways with Carlton following his delisting after the club confirmed his departure. He has stepped away from the game to prioritize his mental health and personal well-being following a medical episode earlier in the year.
### What happened during the Round 6 match against Collingwood? Hollands suffered an in-game mental health episode during Carlton’s Round 6 match against Collingwood in April. He was hospitalized days later and did not play at any level for the remainder of the season.
### Did the AFL penalize Carlton over the incident? Yes. According to the sources, the AFL fined Carlton $75,000 in May after determining that the club failed to remove Hollands from the field despite visual cues and performance data indicating he was struggling.
### What is Elijah Hollands’ football background? Hollands was originally selected by Gold Coast with pick No. 7 in the 2020 draft before moving to Carlton to play alongside his brother, Oliver Hollands. He played a total of 47 AFL games across his time at both clubs.
Did you know? Elijah Hollands is part of a deep football lineage that includes a professional father and great-grandfather, alongside playing alongside his brother Ollie at the MCG in front of 90,000 fans.
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