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\u2018DIM VIEW\u2019: SAD TRUTH OF HOLLANDS DRAMA COMES INTO FOCUS<\/p>\n
Questions still linger over Elijah Hollands\u2019 Thursday night mental health incident, with Carlton\u2019s actions – or lack thereof – becoming the focus of the footy world.<\/p>\n
The club could be facing a major sanction, according to Herald Sun chief footy writer Jay Clark, if they\u2019re found guilty of conduct unbecoming over their handling of the 23-year-old.<\/p>\n
Carlton CEO Graham Wright confirmed on Sunday morning the club was aware Hollands was \u201cstruggling\u201d in the narrow loss to Collingwood, in which he had just one disposal while playing most of the game, and revealed he\u2019ll miss next week\u2019s trip to face Fremantle.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were aware that he was struggling in the game, and he has previously had anxiety and panic attacks. Our guys were dealing with him in the game, and obviously he was having some problems.\u201d Wright admitted.<\/p>\n
Wright was then asked why Hollands was out on the field for nine minutes of the crucial final term despite the Blues\u2019 knowledge of the state the 23-year-old was in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking into all of that right now. Part of the process has started and we are working through that now,\u201d the Blues boss answered.<\/p>\n
Carlton CEO: “Aware he was struggling” | 00:55<\/p>\n
They were not the only ones aware. Fan footage of Hollands was spreading on social media during the game, and Collingwood players themselves were seen speaking about the incident post-match.<\/p>\n
Veteran reporter Caroline Wilson told 3AW on Saturday Hollands \u201cwas telling some Collingwood players that he had been drinking\u201d, and that is backed up by a fan-created video shared online where Dan Houston appears to be telling teammates during the post-match presentations what he noticed.<\/p>\n
While the Blues said on Friday Hollands had suffered a mental health episode – with SEN\u2019s Sam Edmund reporting they were \u201cabsolutely certain\u201d – on Sunday Wright toned that down slightly, saying \u201cat this stage, we don\u2019t suspect (drugs or alcohol).<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe\u2019re dealing with a mental health issue at the moment but we\u2019re in the process of going through all the circumstances leading up to the game, two or three weeks up to the game and if there were changes for Elijah.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are also medical privacy rules under AFL policy which limit what can be disclosed without a player\u2019s consent.<\/p>\n
The league has begun its investigation into how the Blues handled Hollands and why something wasn\u2019t done earlier.<\/p>\n
Elijah Hollands watches on. Source: Fox Footy.Source: Instagram<\/p>\n
\u201cThe AFL released a statement saying it wanted answers, it wanted an explanation from Carlton, it wanted the findings of the Blues\u2019 investigation into what on earth happened on Thursday night – and why Elijah Hollands \u2026 was allowed to not only play in the first place, but continue to play throughout the game with getting only one touch of the Sherrin until early in the last quarter when he came to the bench,\u201d the Herald Sun\u2019s Jay Clark said on Fox Footy\u2019s Super Saturday Live.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy reading of this situation is the Blues are in genuine trouble here, because the AFL has made it quite clear they are on the hook, and they want a full and frank explanation. And potentially to assess and determine whether there was any serious medical negligence, or a genuine breach of the duty of care from the Carlton Football Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will take several days for Carlton to wind up its own probe, then those findings will be passed onto the AFL, and Laura Kane and the team will assess and scrutinise that pretty closely. Because if the AFL isn\u2019t satisfied on this one, this is a really big story – they could potentially penalise or sanction, deliver a heavy fine to Carlton under the AFL\u2019s conduct unbecoming rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the AFL finds that Carlton\u2019s care for their own player in this situation was inadequate or unsatisfactory, there could be a fine coming Carlton\u2019s way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blues coach Michael Voss could be seen speaking with Hollands after the final siren and ex-Port Adelaide boss Ken Hinkley believes there is every possibility Voss did not know about the situation until the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
AFL put Blues ‘on the hook’ for Hollands | 00:43<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you see the behaviour, clearly you take the player out of the game and you look after the player,\u201d Hinkley said on Super Saturday Live.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you\u2019ve got to trust all of the people who are working at the club – there would\u2019ve been so many people involved \u2026 I know Chris Davies really well, football manager at Carlton now, he would\u2019ve made sure everything was done to the letter of the law. Look, I don\u2019t know how it\u2019s unfolded exactly, it looked obvious pretty early that he was in some problems, but they let him play for a bit longer than they should\u2019ve or could\u2019ve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re the coach, when you\u2019re busy doing what you\u2019re doing, it\u2019s hard … you assume the messages were coming through, and if they were then there\u2019s a bigger issue at play. But if they weren\u2019t, and the game\u2019s going on around you as the coach – I\u2019m not defending Michael but as the coach, you\u2019ve got a lot going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt was critical of Carlton being slow to act, declaring: \u201cAs soon as there is a sign of what\u2019s happening, he comes off.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got five on the bench! The player\u2019s welfare and safety is paramount.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that delay in Hollands being removed from the game could be the critical component of the league\u2019s investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of the duty of care – you must be (aware),\u201d Jay Clark said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s an official, a coach, a welfare officer, a player development manager \u2026 there\u2019s adults everywhere, employees of Carlton, so if he\u2019s not right and you go back to the vision of one hour before the game where he\u2019s having that set shot on goal and it bounces off his ankle and goes at right angles.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople in the stands are already onto it up on the top deck in row 24. If they can see it, how does no-one at Carlton pick it up?<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the fact they haven\u2019t observed it, that is part of the problem, even when he\u2019s running out through the banner on the club\u2019s own Instagram account you can see from behind him some unusual movements, some jerkiness, some twitchiness, that is part of the problem and the AFL is taking a dim view as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elijah Hollands walking onto the ground. Photo: Instagram, Carlton Football ClubSource: Instagram<\/p>\n
NO DARCY, NO DOGS? EXPERTS\u2019 VERDICT REVEALED<\/p>\n
Two weeks ago, the Western Bulldogs were the only undefeated AFL team and seemed destined for A premiership push.<\/p>\n
Two alarming losses and, just as notably, a season-ending injury to Sam Darcy later, there\u2019s now doubt around their flag credentials.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how significant Darcy\u2019s blow is.<\/p>\n
Worst fears confirmed for Darcy | 00:31<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs will be without their young superstar forward for the rest of their 2026 campaign after scans confirmed he\u2019d ruptured his ACL against Geelong on Friday night.<\/p>\n
A range of Fox Footy pundits were then asked over the weekend whether the Bulldogs could still win the 2026 premiership without Darcy.<\/p>\n
It was, ultimately, a polarising question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat paired with Tim English (recent injury), that\u2019s two big blows in consecutive weeks and in the space of a month.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to see them going deep in September without Darcy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto said a Dogs flag without Darcy was now \u201chighly unlikely\u201d, while Herald Sun chief football reporter Jay Clark also cast doubt.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to see how the Western Bulldogs can win a premiership here,\u201d Clark told Fox Footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting to see whether Luke Beveridge, who\u2019s been full on for a flag tilt to this point in the season, and his strategy or approach will adjust at all on the back of this injury.\u201d<\/p>\n
But not everyone is writing the Dogs off yet.<\/p>\n
Ex-Power coach Ken Hinkley conceded Darcy\u2019s loss \u201cmakes it a lot harder\u201d for the Dogs, he said so many premiership sides win a flag without an important player. Hinkley pointed to West Coast in 2018 when it claimed the cup minus Nic Naitanui, as well as Geelong (2011) and Hawthorn (2014 and 2015) after losing Gary Ablett and Lance Franklin respectively.<\/p>\n
Can Dogs win flag without star? | 02:47<\/p>\n
Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis also remains bullish, arguing the Bulldogs still have enough top-end talent to contend.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo I still think they could. I still think they\u2019ve got enough A-graders to carry them over the line,\u201d Lewis told Fox Footy.<\/p>\n
But for Lewis and Hinkley, it\u2019s the Bulldogs\u2019 defensive issues \u2013 not their forward line chasms \u2013 that could be their biggest barrier to lifting this year\u2019s cup.<\/p>\n
It prompted Lewis to float a radical move to help stabilise the Dogs structurally.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing with me and the Bulldogs is I\u2019d love to see Marcus Bontempelli in defence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they lack leadership, that\u2019s the biggest thing they lack in their back-end.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be the biggest difference from them going from wanting to contend to contending.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the Bulldogs remain in the flag mix, Darcy\u2019s absence means they mightn\u2019t be feared in the same way as before.<\/p>\n
‘RUBBISH!’ – Gerard cracks it at ARC | 00:28<\/p>\n
\u2018JUST MAKE YOUR CALL\u2019: ARC REVIEW THAT LEFT COMMENTATOR LIVID<\/p>\n
It was the score review call that left Fox Footy commentator Gerard Whateley fuming mid-broadcast.<\/p>\n
Halfway through the second term of Friday night\u2019s Cats-Bulldogs clash at GMHBA Stadium, key forward Aaron Naughton had a flying shot at goal. It sailed well wide of the goals and, essentially, over the behind post.<\/p>\n
The goal and boundary umpire looked at each other with uncertainty as to whether it was a behind to Naughton or out of bounds on the full. It prompted the field official to send the decision to the ARC, with the umpire\u2019s call a behind.<\/p>\n
The umpire’s call was a behind.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
What followed felt like a waste of time. ARC reviewers assessed the play using camera angles that, ultimately, where a definitive call seemed impossible \u2026 unless the behind post had doubled in length.<\/p>\n
Cue an outraged Whateley.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow have these umpires not worked out that there\u2019s nothing here that can help?\u201d Whateley asked on Fox Footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook where the goal umpire is, look where the boundary umpire is \u2013 just make your call. This does not belong in the ARC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson suggested: \u201cBut the decision belongs not with umpires, does it? It\u2019s higher up. The administration have got to tell them this.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Whateley replied: \u201cI think they have been encouraged. They now need to be told: \u2018If we\u2019re going to pay you, you have to make this call \u2013 otherwise hand your cheque back and we\u2019ll get someone out of the crowd.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Whateley\u2019s frustration was shared by co-commentator Garry Lyon \u2013 and, no doubt, many fans watching on.<\/p>\n
The ARC review that left Gerard livid.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
A similar incident happened the next day in the Hawks-Power clash, when a high snap from Jack Ginnivan floated well wide of the goals \u2013 and the goal umpire called for ARC assistance to help determine whether it was a behind or no score.<\/p>\n
But the technology never stood a chance.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven how high the ball went, how are you going to tell?\u201d Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall said.<\/p>\n
Co-analyst Adam Simpson added: \u201cNo one\u2019s going to know, so why would you take it upstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n
The league also came under fire across the weekend for continuing to review last touch out of bounds free kicks – going against their stated goal of speeding up the game and going against the core concept of the rule.<\/p>\n
That, at least, can find sometimes an answer that\u2019s not apparent in live play.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, when the ARC is called upon for instances where the ball flies over the top of a post \u2013 as opposed to the side of the upright or around the goalline \u2013 we just don\u2019t have the technology to make a confident call.<\/p>\n
If there is to be a chance in approach, however, it must be driven by AFL headquarters.<\/p>\n
Goal umpires are instructed to review inconclusive goal and behind calls to the ARC if they\u2019re unsure or out of position.<\/p>\n
You sense that might be tweaked after this weekend.<\/p>\n
Kenny’s Butters trade verdict | 03:12<\/p>\n
\u2018THAT\u2019S WHAT EVERYONE FORGETS\u2019: KEN\u2019S BIG CALL IN BUTTERS STAKES<\/p>\n
The Zak Butters discourse is ongoing, and while it\u2019s not set to die down any time soon, Ken Hinkley says there\u2019s a key aspect \u201ceveryone forgets\u201d. <\/p>\n
This year\u2019s premier free agent, Butters was prolific in Port Adelaide\u2019s near-upstaging of Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium. <\/p>\n
Butters racked up a game-high 35 disposals, five clearances, 447 metres gained, a goal and seven intercepts to finish as the game\u2019s highest-rated player in the three-point loss. <\/p>\n
And while Geelong and the Western Bulldogs remain the purported leading trade candidates for the midfield superstar, triple Richmond premiership star Jack Riewoldt floated a different idea after Saturday\u2019s action. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think today, though, maybe (Hawthorn) is the suitor for Zak Butters \u2026 after watching the weekend of footy and seeing a contender like Hawthorn up close, maybe he could end up in the brown and gold,\u201d he posed to Hinkley on Fox Footy\u2019s Super Saturday Live. <\/p>\n
But the former Port Adelaide mentor had a different idea. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think Port are still big in this conversation,\u201d Hinkley said on Fox Footy. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople want to just talk about (the suitors) \u2026 he\u2019s a high-quality player, anyone\u2019s going to want him. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve said it a number of times; he loves Port, he loves his teammates, he lives with (Mitch) Georgiades. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he wants to think regularly about going home. Does he choose to go home? Most of the punters are saying he\u2019s going to get pretty close to saying yes to that. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not going to be a money decision. It\u2019s going to be about where he can win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hawks hang on against the Power | 03:16<\/p>\n
It\u2019s expected Butters will land a long-term contract of at least eight years, on close to $2 million a year, but that figure will only rise as more contenders enter the race for his services.<\/p>\n
Yet it\u2019s that external fixation on the dollar amount that seemed to frustrate Hinkley when probed on the topic. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe either stays at Port, or he\u2019s going to pick the side, in my view (that is closer to a premiership) \u2026 Zak won\u2019t go home for money \u2014 that\u2019s the challenge that everyone forgets,\u201d Hinkley continued. <\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone talks about this money \u2026 Nasiah, he stayed in Melbourne for money, because his club had the most money. They were never going to lose him. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re Port Adelaide, there\u2019s no chance you\u2019re sitting there saying \u2018we\u2019re going to take a risk when we don\u2019t need to\u2019 around money. Zak, whatever it takes, you tell us and we\u2019ll sign the cheque. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf he leaves Port Adelaide, it will be about the team he thinks can win the quickest.\u201d<\/p>\n
You\u2019d be remiss not to take Hinkley at his word, considering that of anyone to cross paths with the 25-year-old over the past seven years, his former coach might have a solid idea of his thought process. <\/p>\n
And his words only solidify the likes of the flag-contending Cats, Bulldogs and Hawks as the most-credentialed suitors for Butters\u2019 services \u2014 and discredits the success rate of a Richmond pursuit after the Tigers were thought to have thrown their hat in the race. <\/p>\n
Suns down spirited Bombers on Gold Coast | 00:52<\/p>\n
INSIDE AFL\u2019S PECULIAR PRIME TIME MYSTERY… AND WHY IT SURPRISINGLY WORKS<\/p>\n
Looking at this weekend\u2019s Friday night fixture, it\u2019s an understandable reflex to question why the heck there are two matches clashing with each other \u2014 one of which was a state Derby.<\/p>\n
In a market where the AFL has made growing the game in the northern half of Australia, namely with Opening Round, the idea of having Sydney and GWS lock horns just half an hour after Geelong and the Western Bulldogs took flight at GMHBA Stadium doesn\u2019t make much sense on face value.<\/p>\n
But, as SEN\u2019s Sam Edmund explained on Saturday morning to Crunch Time, there is a method behind the apparent madness. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe AFL is trying to do what is best for fans and those non-Victorian clubs in particular,\u201d Edmund began.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe league wants good attendance at those venues, and Friday night guarantees that. That was actually a record Sydney Derby crowd \u2014 43,986 \u2014 most they\u2019ve ever had. <\/p>\n
\u201cDown in Geelong, we get a crowd three thousand higher than forecast, and the fourth-highest crowd since the Selwood Stand opened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swans beat inaccurate GWS after delay | 03:19<\/p>\n
After the standard double-header on Good Friday where matches didn\u2019t overlap, Round 6 was the first clash between games in the prime time fixture.<\/p>\n
Richmond and Melbourne\u2019s annual Anzac Day Eve match will make for just one Friday night game next week, before the AFL embarks on five straight weeks with the strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, it\u2019s about what\u2019s best for the broadcasters, they fuel the game. The AFL would not schedule double-headers if they were losing viewers; in fact, the opposite is happening,\u201d Edmund continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about what those local markets are willing to watch. Free-to-air TV in Sydney, they only watch the Swans. They don\u2019t give a stuff about Geelong and the Western Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a couple of weeks, it\u2019s the \u2018Showdown\u2019 (in a double-header). Everyone will lose their mind that it\u2019s not a stand-alone Friday night game, but the Showdown on TV last year into Melbourne was the lowest-rated game of the round there.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one watched it, but they will watch it Adelaide, and in prime time. It was a Saturday night and a double-up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, both of Adelaide and Port Adelaide\u2019s matches clashed with another fixture; their Round 20 clash in particular up against two Victorian teams.<\/p>\n
“One for the Dawson family!” | 03:04<\/p>\n
Beyond ratings for broadcasters though, the double-up also gives the league more flexibility with the scheduling of Thursday night matches the week after. Self-restrictions prevent clubs having more than three five-day breaks in a season, with the short turnaround unavoidable for at least one team on a Thursday if there is only one Friday night match the week before. <\/p>\n
\u201cWith two games on a Friday, it gives them better flex on a Thursday night. Each club can only have three five-day breaks, but four teams on a Friday night gives them a better flex on a Thursday,\u201d Edmund said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benefit here, is you\u2019d like to think it will protect and help guard against the Thursday night shockers … we had some shocking Thursday night games as part of the floating fixture last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea of this is, we get greater quality control on a Thursday night in the back half of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are still serious questions to be answered over the biggest story in footy, with Carlton in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":616957,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,85,41,39,42,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-616956","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-top-news","12":"tag-top-stories","13":"tag-topnews","14":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/616956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=616956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/616956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/616957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=616956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=616956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=616956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}