Top AFL executive takes charge as pressure grows on Blues to explain why Hollands played

The AFL has ordered Carlton to submit the outcome of their investigation into why Elijah Hollands was allowed to play on a night he had a “mental health episode”, as it emerged senior AFL executive Laura Kane was playing a key role in the case.

The Blues are under mounting pressure to justify the way they handled Hollands in Thursday night’s clash against Collingwood at the MCG. Why Hollands was allowed to play 60 per cent of the game for a solitary kick, despite vision of his erratic behaviour circulating, remains a key question the Blues and the AFL have to answer.

In a statement released by the AFL on Saturday night, the league said: “The health and wellbeing of every player is the AFL’s highest priority. The AFL has today requested Carlton to, once concluded, provide the outcome of its review of the circumstances relating to Elijah Hollands’ fitness to play in Thursday night’s match.

“The AFL will continue to make inquiries with the club in relation to the matter.”

Hollands, 23, has a history of mental health and anxiety issues, and had told the Blues before the match he had struggled to sleep.

As reported by this masthead, a source familiar with the incident, not authorised to speak about it, said Hollands was aware he was having issues during the match, but he had been able to deal with these similar issues in the past.

The Blues said post-match they had monitored Hollands’ heartbeat in the second half of the game. They had two doctors and a nurse at the game, while coach Michael Voss and football department chief Chris Davies were also in the change room.

The AFL, the Blues, the AFL Players’ Association, mental health experts and Hollands’ manager have held discussions about the incident. Hollands’ health remained the major focus for all the parties on Saturday.

Kane, who also has health as part of her remit as executive general manager of AFLW and football operations, has been in regular contact with Blues chief executive Graham Wright, the AFL confirmed to this masthead on Saturday.

The Blues could face disciplinary action from the AFL should the league find they failed to handle Hollands in the required manner. The club said on Friday Hollands, who spent time away from the club last year, had not been under the influence of drugs. A spokeswoman said the Blues had no update to report on Saturday.

They could also face an investigation by workplace watchdog WorkSafe Victoria if concerns are raised about their medical handling of the incident, particularly after new workplace regulations were introduced in December dealing with mental health risks. A WorkSafe spokeswoman said on Saturday no complaint had been lodged.

Hollands’ former teammate, Sam Docherty, said on Saturday he had reached out to him in a bid to help him through this difficult period. Docherty, a former Carlton co-captain, has had mental health issues of his own.

He said there were mounting questions over how Hollands had been handled.

“It’s a hard watch, and the questions that you start to ask yourself is how he managed to get himself out on the ground, [and] whether someone could have sort of stopped that before it happened,” Docherty told 3AW.

“And, ultimately, the longer I go, the more questions I start asking about how someone didn’t pick up on that earlier to get him out of that. Because, ultimately, he’s [under] the bright lights and the big stage, everyone watching on the screen, with the issues he has had, and then everyone starts to judge off the back of it.”

In an interview with The Age in October last year, Hollands spoke about asking for help after using alcohol to cope with anxiety. He was delisted at the end of last season and this masthead reported that Carlton consulted players before he was invited back onto the list.

Geelong star Bailey Smith delivered an emotional message to Hollands and the Dawson family after the Cats’ strong win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. It came just one day after the brother of Adelaide Crows captain Jordan Dawson was found dead.

“There’s one thing I want to touch on which is maybe out of pocket, but I just want to shout out the Dawson family and Elijah Hollands last night,” Smith told Seven.

“I think it’s about time the AFL get a men’s mental health round.

“It makes you feel sick during the week, and hopefully the AFL community wraps our arms around them and we can do something.

“I think the footy world can be quite toxic at times, and it is [also] good at putting our arms around the people who need it most, when we need to.

“Speak to your mates, [and] put your arm around your loved ones – you never know who might need it.”

Voss said after the game on Thursday that Hollands was “shattered” and felt he “let people down” following the five-point loss.

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