Updated ,first published
Carlton player Elijah Hollands willingly submitted to a drug test in the aftermath of Thursday night’s match against Collingwood, in which he suffered a mental health episode.
This masthead has also confirmed that club doctors assessed Hollands multiple times during the game, in which his erratic movements caught widespread attention.
The details emerged as Hollands’ father and brother posted heartfelt messages to the struggling player on social media, and WorkSafe Victoria opened the door to an investigation into whether Carlton breached any occupational health and safety laws in leaving him on the field.
The result of the drug test has not yet been divulged, but two sources familiar with the situation, speaking anonymously, said Hollands was happy to take the test.
How the test was conducted could not be confirmed by this masthead, except that it took place in the period following the game. A player can be target-tested under the AFL’s illicit drugs code on various grounds, including for their health and safety.
Carlton’s review of the incident is continuing after Hollands, 23, was admitted to a Melbourne hospital on Monday.
Elijah’s father, Ben Hollands, posted a note on Instagram on Tuesday alongside a portrait picture of his son in Carlton football gear handballing a football.
“This is my beautiful boy,” the message said.
“For anyone in the midst of healing … You are loved. You have a unique and defined purpose. You are seen whole.
“I know who my son is – and I will lift him up until he is restored in full.
“For those supporting someone who is struggling: encourage them, affirm them, and love them.
“Go to them, remind them of who they truly are …”
Ben Hollands played eight games for Richmond in 1999. He was initially recruited by Sydney from North Albury.
Elijah’s younger brother, Ollie, who was on the field during the episode, posted further support on Instagram, finishing his message with the words “Love you Roger” and a love heart.
“It’s incredibly challenging watching your own brother go through something like this but the amount of support that we have received has been overwhelming and as a family we will be forever grateful,” Ollie Hollands said on Instagram, also sharing a photo of the brothers as kids.
Elijah and Ollie were united at Carlton at the start of 2024.
“There are no words to describe how grateful we are for all the love and support Elijah and our family have received,” said the 22-year-old.
“We want to say a huge thank you to the Carlton Football Club, Blues supporters and the greater AFL community for all of your support and love.”
The Blues’ review is expected to examine communication between medical staff, coaches and interchange officials, as well as the protocols followed once Hollands’ condition became apparent.
He did not have a single effective disposal in 60 per cent ground time.
The review, which is expected to be handed to the AFL by Thursday, could also determine whether WorkSafe launches a full investigation; the matter is yet to be elevated to that level.
“WorkSafe is assessing the matter to determine whether any action is required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act,” a WorkSafe Victoria spokesman said.
The employment watchdog will question the Blues and the AFL, and seek preliminary evidence, before determining its next move.
In 2016, the Essendon Football Club was fined $200,000 and ordered to pay $20,000 in costs after pleading guilty to two WorkSafe Victoria charges regarding the 2011-2012 supplements program.
Under league rules governing a player’s fitness to participate, the Blues could face a fine of $50,000 or more if it is determined Hollands should have been removed from the match. While those provisions have historically been applied to head trauma and concussion cases, they are not limited to physical injuries.
The AFL would need to determine that Hollands was medically unfit to continue – a threshold that introduces complex questions around how mental health episodes are assessed in real time compared to more visible physical injuries.
Elijah Hollands crossed from the Gold Coast after being taken by the Suns at pick No.7 in the 2020 national draft. Ollie was taken by Carlton at pick No.11 in the 2022 draft.
Both boys grew up playing football in the Albury-Wodonga region.
Melbourne premiership captain Max Gawn said on Tuesday the Demons would use the Hollands case to check how they would handle such a situation.
“It’s been a tough week in football with the Hollands family and the Dawson family,” Gawn said on Triple M.
The brother of Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson died last week in South Australia. Jaryd Dawson was reported missing by his wife, Jessica, on Tuesday. A day later police confirmed his body had been found and identified.
“It’s an interesting one. When things like this happen in football, we will use this [the Hollands incident] as a test case,” Gawn said.
“I’ll go into the leaders this week and put this on us, [and ask] what would we do in this situation? Once the game started going, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and we all saw what we saw on vision.
“I’d love to do a test case on myself and see how I’d react in that [situation] but, in hindsight, he should have come off the ground at some point.”
Gawn said he would have “multiple” face-to-face chats with teammates before taking to the field.
“But again, we’re presuming that Elijah was acting differently. We’ve been given a lot of vision [since the match] and it’s helped us come to our own determination of what should have happened with Elijah, but you have to remember how hard that actually is to call live,” Gawn said.
Support is available from Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 and MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.
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Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.
Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.