Carlton is reportedly set to be fined $75,000 over its handling of Elijah Hollands in its Round 6 loss to Collingwood on April 16.
That’s according to The Age’s Peter Ryan, who reports on Tuesday that the sum of money will be paid to Headspace, which supports youth mental health.
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The league is expected to formally announce the sanction on Tuesday afternoon, with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon set to address reporters at 4.00pm AEST.
According to The Age, the AFL’s release is expected to be “light on details” given there is a WorkSafe investigation currently in progress.
Hollands, who suffered a mental health episode in Carlton’s match against the Magpies, was admitted to hospital two weeks ago; five days after the Collingwood-Carlton match.
The Blues, who commenced an internal investigation into the circumstances, submitted their findings to the AFL on April 23.
Twelve days later, the league has come to Tuesday’s decision on a sanction.
AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge reports that in the wake of the Hollands outcome, the league is set to make it mandatory for every club to have a full-time psychologist on staff.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 16: Elijah Hollands recorded one kick in 60 per cent game-time in the match against Collingwood. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
It comes after The Age revealed last month that the Blues could be fined upwards of $50,000 under the rules that govern a player’s fitness to play.
Rule 35.1 states: “No club shall, by itself or its officers, any coach, servant or agent, permit or allow any player to play or train or continue to play in any match or train where it suspects or where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that such player:
(a) may not be responsible for their actions;
(b) is not in a fit state to play or continue to play, having due regard to their health and safety; or
(c) pursuant to any guidelines issued by the AFL should not continue to play or train.”
The sanction for a breach of that rule is $50,000, but as the publication noted, a heavier fine can be imposed if the league “deems the failing egregious”.
Carlton had been the target of criticism for its handling of an unwell Hollands, prompting Michael Voss to launch a passionate defence of his people in a press conference one week after the original revelation.
Voss lamented how Hollands’ “private challenge” had quickly turned into a “public event”, before declaring the Blues hadn’t failed their player.
“The commentary, the conversation, the ball-by-ball play, we’ve unfortunately made it that. And in some ways — I’ll be really honest — it’s felt like bordering on bullying.”