![\"Elijah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0e1e0984aa5a0f53c4dbc63e08f9c97b01cb7aa2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nElijah Hollands has issued a heartfelt goodbye to the AFL community following the announcement of his delisting from Carlton on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Hollands and $5 million midfielder Zac Williams are among seven players Carlton has delisted.<\/p>\n
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Elijah Hollands of the Blues.\u00a0AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old Hollands hasn\u2019t played at any level since experiencing a mental health episode<\/a> during Carlton\u2019s clash with Collingwood<\/a> at the MCG in round seven. <\/p>\n The fallout from the incident resulted in the AFL handing Carlton a $75,000 fine<\/a>, with league chief executive Andrew Dillon stating the club had \u201cbrought the game into disrepute\u201d over its handling of the situation.<\/p>\n Breaking his silence for the first time since stepping back from the game, Hollands took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to reflect on his career.<\/p>\n \u201cI have spent a long time trying to find the best way to deliver the emotions I\u2019ve felt over this decision,\u201d he wrote. <\/p>\n \u201cFootball means an extreme amount to me. My dad played professional footy, my great-grandfather played professional footy, my brother plays professional footy – it is everything I have lived and breathed for as long as I can remember. <\/p>\n \u201cI have only ever wanted to do one thing my entire life: copy what was done before me and play AFL footy. It was something that I just knew I was going to do when I was a kid, and it was all I ever cared about – and now, unfortunately, that purpose I had is no longer.<\/p>\n \u201cI love this game, but I have come to realise that there are things in my life that are far more important than footy right now, and they\u2019re the things I will now prioritise.\u201d <\/p>\n Hollands, who is not expected to be on an AFL<\/a> list in 2027, noted he will forever cherish the memory of playing alongside his younger brother Ollie in front of 90,000 fans at the MCG.<\/p>\n \u201cAs an extremely confident 18-year-old, I certainly envisioned my career going a whole lot differently, but I am okay with accepting that it just isn\u2019t in the plans set for me,\u201d Hollands continued. <\/p>\n \u201cI will cherish being able to share the stage with Ollie, and I am so grateful to say that I have done what so many dream of: playing in front of 90,000 people at the MCG with my own brother. That is something very special to me.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be moving into the next chapter of my life, leaving what will feel like a big hole to fill, but I am excited about what can come from having my health and mind in much greater shape.\u201d<\/p>\n Hollands played 47 AFL games: 14 for Gold Coast and 33 with Carlton.<\/p>\n The other players delisted alongside Hollands and Williams<\/a> are Jordan Boyd, Lachie Fogarty, Lewis Young, Flynn Young and Harry Charleson.<\/p>\n