Carlton part ways with Elijah Hollands despite having a year to run on his contract

Carlton have delisted former top-10 draft pick Elijah Hollands with a year left to run on his contract.

The 23-year-old has faced off-field challenges this year and has taken leave of absence from the club multiple times.

7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary says Hollands could still be given another chance to prove himself as a train-on with the Blues over summer, if another club doesn’t snap him up in the meantime.

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“Elijah Hollands has been delisted by Carlton with a year left on his deal,” Cleary revealed on Friday afternoon.

“He will be considered as a train-on over summer to win his spot back as a rookie.

“Open to all other clubs in the meantime.”

Hollands’ delisting would have been a delicate decision for Carlton, given they also have Elijah’s brother Ollie on their list.

Ollie has been an outstanding young player for the Blues since being drafted with pick No.11 in the 2022 draft. He has played 65 games for the club, hardly missing since his debut in Round 1 of 2023.

Elijah was traded to the Blues from Gold Coast at the end of 2023, but has played only 27 games in his two seasons, including just five this year as he struggled through off-field issues that coach Michael Voss admitted was “disappointing” for the club.

Elijah Hollands no longer has a contract for 2026. Credit: AAP

Cleary revealed in August that the Blues asked Hollands to explore his options after a tough year that included two stints away from the game on personal leave.

His delisting is Carlton’s second brutal call in two days, having ripped up the contract of Jaxon Binns on Thursday, he too with a year left to run on his deal.

The 20-year-old came to an agreement with the Blues to depart after eight games over three seasons.

Binns’ final AFL game of the year in Round 15 against North Melbourne was headlined by an intense spray from coach Michael Voss at three-quarter time.

He was dropped to the reserves the following week where he remained for the rest of the season.

“I feel that’s a show of respect that Vossy expects better from me. That’s footy so we get on with it and keep coming back and playing your role,” Binns told 7NEWS of Voss’s spray in July.

“We sat down and got some clarity on where I went wrong and what I needed to get better at. Vossy’s been unbelievable with me especially.”

Carlton have delisted Jaxon Binns despite the wingman having one year left on his contract at Ikon Park. Credit: Getty

Much-loved among the playing group, Binns was named in the 2023 VFL team of the year after winning the Blues’ VFL best and fairest.

The arrival of Campbell Chesser (West Coast), Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast), Will Hayward and Ollie Florent (Sydney) bumped Binns further down Carlton’s pecking order for 2026.

Binns was drafted in at pick No.32 in 2022 and was rewarded with a contract extension in July 2023 until the end of 2026 before playing a senior game.

He debuted the following season but failed to earn a regular spot Voss’ senior line-up.

– With Mitch Cleary