Elijah Hollands

Elijah Hollands
Personal information
Full name Elijah Hollands
Born (2002-04-25) 25 April 2002
Adelaide, South Australia
Original teams Murray Bushrangers (NAB League)
Wodonga (O & M Football League)
Draft No. 7, 2020 national draft
Height 189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Carlton
Number 20
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2021–2023 Gold Coast 14 (8)
2024– Carlton 33 (23)
Total 47 (31)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 22, 2026.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Elijah Hollands (born 25 April 2002) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Gold Coast Suns.

Early life

Hollands was born in Adelaide, South Australia.[1] His father, Ben, was a professional Australian rules footballer who played 8 AFL games for Richmond in 1999 as well as spending years on Sydney and Port Adelaide's AFL lists.[2] Hollands lived the first nine years of his life in Adelaide before relocating to Wodonga on the Victoria-New South Wales border.

Hollands didn't start playing football until he began with Auskick at the Wodonga Bulldogs[3] going on to play junior football in the Ovens & Murray Football League and made his senior debut for the club at 16 years of age.[4] Leading into his final year of junior football, Hollands was touted as a potential number one draft pick before tearing his ACL and missing the entirety of the 2020 NAB League season.[5] Despite his injury, he was drafted by the Gold Coast Suns with pick 7 in the 2020 AFL draft.[6]

AFL career

Gold Coast (2021–2023)

Hollands made his AFL debut in QClash 23 against the Brisbane Lions in round 19 of the 2022 AFL season and kicked two goals in his first game, including a goal with his first kick.[7] He received a Rising Star Nomination two weeks later in round 21 against Hawthorn, collecting 23 disposals and kicking two goals.[8]

Carlton (2024–)

Hollands was traded to Carlton following the 2023 AFL season, joining his younger brother Ollie.[9] Before playing a game for Carlton, Hollands was found to be in possession of drugs and given a two-match ban.[10]

During the 2025 AFL season, Hollands took personal leave from the AFL.[11] He later revealed that he had been battling with mental health and issues with alcohol.[12] He was delisted by Carlton following the end of the season with a year remaining on his contract,[13] but given the opportunity to continue training for a list spot through the offseason,[14] and was added back to club's rookie list in the 2026 pre-season supplemental selection period.[15]

In Round 6 of the 2026 season, during Carlton's 5 point loss to Collingwood, Hollands was observed to act erratically, only recording one disposal, before being benched in the final quarter.[16] Concerns were raised for his wellbeing, including by the AFL Players Association, with Carlton releasing a statement the following day, confirming that he had suffered a "mental health episode".[17][18] The AFL also released a statement confirming that they will seek clarification from the club on his fitness to play, as well as requesting the outcome of the club's internal review into the matter.[19][20] On 20 April, Hollands was confirmed to have been admitted to hospital.[21]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.[22]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2022Gold Coast36 55452338526111.00.810.46.617.05.22.20
2023Gold Coast36 932724211423230.30.28.04.712.72.62.60
2024Carlton20 221710250141391100580.80.511.46.417.84.52.63
2025Carlton20 51151348519140.20.210.26.817.03.82.80
2026Carlton20 6515340931780.80.28.86.715.52.81.30
Career 4731184782907681851140.70.410.26.216.33.92.43

References

  1. ↑ "McDonald vs. Thilthorpe: Who should the Crows pick at No. 1?". ESPN Australia. 25 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Son of former Tiger hopes for more than 15 minutes of fame". The Age. 6 December 2020.
  3. ↑ AFL Record. Round 22, 2022. pg 58
  4. ↑ "Former O and M star's son headlines a raft of changes in O and M selections". The Border Mail. 9 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "Potential number one draft pick Elijah Hollands suffers season ending ACL injury". Herald Sun. 26 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Elijah Hollands joins the SUNS with pick 7". Gold Coast Suns. 9 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "Elijah Hollands joins the first kick, first goal club". AFL Twitter. 23 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Media, Suns (2 May 2024). "Elijah Hollands named Round 21 Rising Star". goldcoastfc. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  9. ↑ @AFL_House (18 October 2023). "Trade paperwork lodged" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  10. ↑ "Carlton player Elijah Hollands handed two-match suspension by AFL following drug possession admission". abc.net.au. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Blues' Elijah Hollands takes personal leave from AFL". ESPN. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  12. ↑ Negrepontis, Nic. "He was axed with a year to run on his contract but now Elijah Hollands is digging in to return to Carlton's list". nine.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Blues axe two players with year left on contract, SSP rookie departs". afl.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  14. ↑ Keating, Mitch. "Carlton provide update on two-player race for SSP spot". Zero Hanger. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "Hollands and Derksen earn their chance". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Carlton and AFL throw support behind Elijah Hollands after 'mental health episode'". Guardian. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Carlton confirms Elijah Hollands suffered 'mental health episode' against Collingwood". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Club Statement: Elijah Hollands". Carlton Football Club. 17 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "Carlton, AFL release statements on Elijah Hollands after mental health episode". AFL Media. 18 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "Carlton footballer Elijah Hollands' AFL career in doubt as probe into concerning game begins". Seven News. 17 April 2026.
  21. ↑ McClure, Sam; Niall, Jake; Ryan, Peter. "Carlton say Elijah Hollands has been admitted to hospital". theage.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Elijah Hollands". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
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