Concern is growing for Carlton midfielder Elijah Hollands after troubling vision from Thursday night’s clash with Collingwood left teammates, officials and fans closely monitoring his condition.
The 23-year-old endured a difficult outing at the MCG, finishing with just one disposal in the Blues’ 88–83 loss, despite playing significant minutes across the first three quarters.
Hollands initially ended the match without registering a statistic before being credited with a single possession retrospectively, an ineffective kick recorded in the third term.
He spent much of the final quarter on the bench as Collingwood overturned an 18-point deficit at the final break to secure the win.
However, it was not just his limited impact on the game that drew attention.
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.
Carlton star Elijah Hollands had a night to forget as Collingwood beat the Blues on Thursday
The re-listed Blues star, pictured with coach Michael Voss, finished the night with just a single disposal
Fans said he ‘was displaying some erratic movements’ and ‘didn’t look like himself’ during the second half.
‘[You’re] telling me none of his teammates or staff or coaches noticed he wasn’t right before the game? I don’t understand how this can even happen,’ one fan posted.
Another added: ‘I’ve never seen anything like this. They better look after him now because he needs serious help’.
‘This is so unfortunate considering he had a really good couple of games,’ posted another.
Further details emerged post-match indicating the midfielder had been closely monitored, with reports stating his heart rate was checked during the game and that he had experienced difficulty sleeping the night before.
It was also reported 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.
‘He was pretty emotional after the game.’
Voss said 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.
‘We’ve just got to keep supporting people through those situations.’
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.
Hollands has had previous battles with mental illness and alcohol, leading to fan concern for his wellbeing
‘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 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 emphasising 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
