Carlton has admitted that it was aware Elijah Hollands was acting in an unusual way during a game as rumours swirl he had been drinking.
Carlton chief executive Graham Wright said the club is investigating why no action was taken after Hollands appeared to show erratic behaviour on Thursday night as the team faced Collingwood at the MCG.
As rumours swirl around whether Hollands had told Collingwood players that he’d been drinking before the game, Wright responded directly to those claims, describing Hollands’ issues as ‘unprecedented and complex’.
‘I heard that report,’ he told reporters on Sunday morning.
‘I haven’t heard anything from Collingwood or the AFL.’
He said the club does not ‘suspect’ Hollands was under the influence of any drug or substance.
Wright confirmed the 23-year-old will not travel to Perth for the club’s Round 7 match against Fremantle on Saturday, and said he has been supported by medical staff.
He also said Hollands was ‘okay’ and has been spending time with family.
Carlton star Elijah Hollands had a night to forget as Collingwood beat the Blues on Thursday
Carlton chief executive Graham Wright said the club is investigating as to why no action was taken after Hollands appeared to show erratic behaviour throughout the game
It was reported Hollands had told Collingwood players that he’d been drinking before the game
It comes after veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson reported Collingwood players had informed AFL officials that Hollands told them he had been drinking before the game.
‘Sam Edmund said yesterday drugs were not involved. I am not sure where he got that information but I certainly can’t confirm that. I don’t know if he was drug tested,’ Wilson said on 3AW.
‘Obviously, (he has) high anxiety and had a mental health episode.’
Wilson added she couldn’t prove there was alcohol involved, but that reports were ‘coming strongly’ from Collingwood players that there was.
Wilson’s claim came as the AFL asked Carlton to share its review into what happened at Thursday’s game.
‘The health and wellbeing of every player is the AFL’s highest priority,’ the AFL said in a statement on Saturday.
‘The AFL has today requested Carlton to, once concluded, provide the outcome of its review of the circumstances relating to 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’ erratic behaviour was caught off camera by supporters
Fans said he ‘didn’t look like himself’ during the second half
It comes after fan-filmed footage circulating online after the game appeared to show Hollands behaving unusually in Carlton’s forward 50, with multiple observers noting he looked out of character during passages of play.
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.
Vision also emerged of Hollands heading up the tunnel and onto the field before the match, making erratic hand gestures along the way.
‘Carlton walkout to the banner, you can see Elijah Hollands’ body and hand movements weren’t right even before the game,’ a fan posted with the footage.
‘Carlton are in deep trouble. The AFL can’t hide what everyone can clearly see.’
Hollands has had previous battles with mental health and alcohol issues, leading to fan concern for his wellbeing.
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.
The situation follows 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.
