AFL great Mathew Stokes has questioned whether some players are too quick to enjoy the perks of being highly paid elite footy stars without living up to the responsibilities that come with it.
His comments come as several high-profile AFL players take indefinite leave for ‘personal issues’, leaving their teammates to carry the load – with Stokes saying the term is too often used as an excuse.
Carlton forward Elijah Hollands stepped away from the game on March 11. The club said he had approached officials weeks earlier asking for support and would be given the time he needed to focus on his wellbeing.
Details of his leave remain private, but Carlton has asked the public to respect his space.
Club General Manager of Football Brad Lloyd said, ‘We applaud Elijah for having the courage to come forward and ask for help, and we will continue to work with him to ensure he gets all the support he needs.’
In a separate case, fellow Blue Harry McKay has also taken indefinite leave since March 27, with the club initially citing illness before confirming the matter was mental health-related.
Elijah Hollands pictured playing for Carlton before taking indefinite leave to focus on his wellbeing
Fellow Blue Harry McKay returned via the VFL after stepping away from AFL duties in March
McKay returned via the VFL, kicking two goals in the third quarter but delivering a subdued performance overall.
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd told Nine’s Footy Classified, ‘It would be frustrating to the fact he can bring himself to play VFL but not AFL football.’
Fans have been vocal online. Some accused players of hiding behind vague labels.
‘Far too precious and far too easy to pull the mental health card,’ one wrote.
Others defended them: ‘Do you have even an inkling of the ‘R U OK?’ campaign? Shows none of you have ever had any issues with mental health or loved ones with mental health issues.’
Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is another big name in the spotlight.
After taking personal leave during the pre-season, he returned to training and is pushing for selection. But senior club figures reportedly want him to repair relationships with teammates and staff first.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed, ‘There’s no guarantee that’s going to happen in the short-term.’
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (pictured right during a match last year) is now working to repair his relationship with the Western Bulldogs as off-field issues stop him from playing
Ugle-Hagan and his influencer girlfriend Olivia Kelly, pictured at an NBL match, have split
Behind the scenes, concerns had been growing about Ugle-Hagan’s behaviour towards the end of the 2023 season.
In last year’s elimination final, coach Beveridge nearly pulled him out of the side just hours before the bounce, with club leaders eventually settling on a compromise that saw the young forward start on the bench.
Despite these issues, Ugle-Hagan signed a contract extension in May after a family ‘reset’, with reports estimating his salary this season at close to $900,000.
Some fans are uneasy about the growing trend of well-paid stars stepping away mid-season.
Stokes argues this growing pattern deserves closer scrutiny. He believes the phrase ‘personal issues’ is too often used as a catch-all excuse.
‘A player who is suffering from poor mental health should be given the space to work through their issues,’ Stokes wrote for The Age.
‘But if a player’s behaviour is contributing to the issues – for example, alcohol or substance abuse, poor training habits or preparation – should clubs be able to make decisions that prioritise their interests over those of the individual?’
Mathew Stokes has slammed players who want the perks of the AFL life without accepting the responsibilities that go with it
Stokes, a two-time premiership winner with Geelong, says AFL players must face consequences if behaviour impacts team performance
He says clubs should have the right to hold those players accountable, rather than treating them the same as someone going through genuine hardship.
‘It makes me uncomfortable to see the phrase ‘personal issues’ used as a catch-all… when the reasons for each individual’s absence are wide and varied,’ he wrote.
The issue is not new. In 2022, Adelaide’s Fischer McAsey, St Kilda’s Zak Jones, and AFLW star Jess Wuetschner all stepped away from football for mental health reasons. Each case was met with varying degrees of public support and scrutiny.
There is no suggestion that any players named in this article were unjustified in taking leave.
Stokes’ comments come amid reports of loopholes in the AFL’s Illicit Drugs Policy.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie recently alleged in parliament that clubs helped players dodge match-day tests by encouraging them to fake injuries if they feared a positive result.
Former Melbourne club doctor Dr Zeeshan Arain supported the claims, but AFL CEO Andrew Dillon dismissed them as ‘wildly exaggerated’ during a closed-door meeting with clubs.
He confirmed the league’s drugs policy would remain ‘health-based’, not punitive, despite increasing media pressure.
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire wants a policy overhaul where players are named if they miss AFL games for drug-related reasons.
Speaking on Footy Classified, he said, ‘We’re nominating six weeks [out of the game] … ‘Lloyd out; hamstring. Joe Blow out; drugs.’
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd questioned McKay’s ability to play VFL but not at AFL level
Former Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire predicts tougher penalties for players under drug policy changes
Stokes says the league must not forget the majority of players who quietly show up, train hard, and carry the weight of expectation without complaint.
‘Let’s not neglect those who turn up and battle through pre-seasons and seasons without complaint,’ he wrote.
‘They take on the burden of performance… while the main narrative seems to be to show the greatest respect to someone living outside the team ethos who continues to be financially rewarded.’
‘That doesn’t seem fair to me.’
Stokes insists that the AFL has made great strides in supporting player wellbeing. But he also believes it’s time for tough conversations about accountability, especially when the integrity of teams, seasons and careers are at stake.
‘Sometimes the consequences for certain behaviours should be borne by the individual rather than the club, teammates and supporters,’ he said.
