Elijah Hollands
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Adelaide, South Australia
Wodonga (O & M Football League)
| Elijah Hollands | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Elijah Hollands | ||
| Born |
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 7, 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.
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]
