Michael Voss has hit out at what he described as “bullying” behaviour in relation to Elijah Hollands’s hospitalisation and called for more understanding from the media.
Footage showed Hollands acting erratically during the game and struggling to kick the ball in the warm-up, however the Blues kept the 23-year-old on the field for much of Carlton’s MCG clash against Collingwood last week.
The Blues subsequently announced that Hollands had been admitted to hospital and had suffered a mental health episode during the match.
Voss was repeatedly questioned about the incident in his weekly press conference, with the Blues coach defending the process his club went through and hitting back at the public way the discussion took place.
“We’ve, unfortunately, rather than make this a private challenge, we’ve made this a public event,” Voss said.
“So 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 a bordering on bullying.Â
“When you start to think about that as a concept, about our people, that’s really important, that’s who I care about the most.Â
“So rather than show compassion and empathy through a really difficult situation, we are being really judgemental with knowing little facts, without understanding history and background, and we’ve drawn our own outcomes.Â
“We can’t judge that in a binary way. It’s complex. It’s situational. So we’ve got to find that middle ground between that type of care, but also providing the support that we need and the processing behind it.Â
“I think we acknowledge that. But that’s an industry conversation. If we’re going to have this proper conversation about mental health, then let’s have it. But this is an industry conversation and the healthy conversation will be how we support our people in an environment that absolutely demands so much from our people and having a healthy respect between what you need to report on the game and what we need to provide in our environment to our players.Â
“But I won’t solve that here. I just won’t. Because the people that are in charge of the game are largely the biggest ones that can make the significant change that’s needed.”
Michael Voss defended the Blues staff. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
The Blues boss said it was important that Hollands was given the space to recover and that “the last couple of years haven’t been smooth sailing” for either Hollands or Carlton since Hollands came out about his mental health struggles.
“Elijah, two years ago or thereabouts, showed enormous courage to come forward and talk about his challenges and his issues,” Voss said.
“And the last couple of years haven’t been smooth sailing for him or us.Â
“But what we have done is, and our team of people have done, is provided amazing mentoring, counselling, guidance, specialists and professionals, both inside and out [of the club], all for the opportunity for a young man to be able to have a career.Â
“All through the discussions that I’ve had with [Hollands] has been very little to do about football and everything about to do about life.Â
“Ultimately, when you get those things right, now we can talk about the football.Â
“But I don’t think you should say that there has not been amazing care, love, support, empathy, accountability throughout this whole process.Â
“And when we have challenging times like what we did over the weekend and you start to sift through this information, you just cannot possibly come to the conclusion that it is about care.Â
“We accept that we need to look at process. So, and that process will show itself over whatever time it needs to be. But there is that care.”
Key Events
2h ago2 hours agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:35am
2h ago2 hours agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:31am
2h ago2 hours agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:23am
Show all key events2h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:35amWe’ll close it off there
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting Voss to say as much as he did. The AFL investigation continues and the Blues will continue to help with that.
The two important things here at that Elijah is given the time and help to recover, and that the league finds a way to do its absolute best to stop this from ever happening again.
ABC Sport will be back live tonight as St Kilda appeals Lance Collard’s ban for allegedly using a homophobic slur, before the Bulldogs take on the Swans from 7:30pm (AEST).
I’ll also add that if this situation has brought up anything for you, there is help. Lifeline Australia is a wonderful organisation and is there for you. You can reach them at 13 11 14 or chat online via this link.
2h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:31amRecap of the press conference
We’ll leave it there as the cameras shut off at Princes Park.
What we learned from the presser:
Voss said the AFL was still investigating exactly what happened, and that time needed to be taken to get to the bottom of itHe defended his leadership and said there were still plenty of questions to be askedHe said he felt like the discourse around the situation had bordered on bullying of Carlton staff members. Speculation has been rife with this story, on social media and on major news sitesVoss mentioned that Hollands had been open and honest with his battles in the past, and that the club had provided ‘amazing’ support to the 23-year-old throughout. He also said most of his own conversations with Hollands have been about off-field things, rather than footy thingsVoss said he hopes there’s essentially a silver lining in the situation, in that it can be a conversation starter about mental health for players around the leagueVoss pointedly directed his final statement at reporters, and asked them what they would want if they found themselves in the same situation2h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:23amVoss closes the press conference
“I think we’ve all been impacted in some ways as individuals and with families,” he says.
He addresses the journalists directly and says that he’s sure people in the pack have experienced mental health issues themself, or had loved ones who have.
“All I just ask is ‘what would you want right now? What would you want right now?”
And with that the press conference comes to a close.
2h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:21am
Voss says this could be seen as a conversation starter
“What I can tell you is about what our approach is this week,” Voss says when asked about the pressure on players.
“As an industry there’s a healthy conversation that needs to be had about the demands on us.
“If this is the conversation starter then this is great.
“But there is a privilege in what we do.”
Explains that playing in front of a massive crowd in Perth needs to be seen as a good thing despite the pressure.
2h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:19am
Voss is asked about Carlton’s famous fadeouts
It looks like we’ve very much moved on from chat about last Thursday night and the investigation, which is understandable.
Jay Clark starts asking about the pressure that’s on Voss and Voss shuts him down quickly, saying he’ll take the question if it’s about the game.
Clark shifts gear and makes the question about Carlton’s fadeouts.
Voss is talking about winning behaviours and never giving up.
2h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:15am
We’re onto footy talk
The Blues are playing Fremantle on Saturday night. The next question is about that.
Voss says he expects his people to move on from the Hollands situation and focus on the game.
2h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:14am
‘It’s a complex situation’
Voss continues to say that this is not a binary situation.
“It’s a complex situation,” he says.
“I am proud of my people.
“What’s said has been said. I’m sure you have more questions. But I have a game to prepare for.”
3h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:11amVoss says the conversation has bordered on ‘bullying’
ABC Sport’s Paul Kennedy asks Voss what he needs on gameday to help pick up on these issues.
Voss says he won’t be drawn on that and that the dialogue in the media has bordered on ‘bullying’.
“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 a bordering on bullying,” he says.
PK attempts a clarification.
“Sorry, you’ve spoken, I’ll speak,” Voss interjects.
Voss then clarifies that he believes Carlton people have been bullied by the media when asked by the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark.
“When you start to think about that as a concept, about our people, that’s really important, that’s who I care about the most,” he says.
“So rather than show compassion and empathy through a really difficult situation, we are being really judgmental with knowing little facts, without understanding history and background, and we’ve drawn our own outcomes.”
3h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:08am
Voss says the club has provided amazing support to Elijah
Voss says he’s been communicating through Elijah’s family and says it’s important the club keeps distance and space.
“Elijah two years ago showed enormous courage to come forward and talk about his challenges and his issues,” Voss says.
“The last couple of years haven’t been smooth sailing.”
He says the club has provided amazing support through that time via specialists and doctors.
Voss says much of the conversations he’s had with Elijah over the years is about life rather than football.
3h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:06am
There it is
“We’ve got a game to play in two days time,” Voss says.
3h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:05am
Voss speaks on his leadership
“Your role in it in is to have the conversations that get the clarity we’re after,” he says.
“We have to make decisions based on all the information available to us.
“There’s been plenty of questions asked.”
3h agoThu 23 Apr 2026 at 12:03am
Voss has arrived
“The AFL is looking into everything at this point in time,” Voss says of Hollands.
“I’m sure there will be some findings out the back of it.”
He says time needs to be taken on this.
3h agoWed 22 Apr 2026 at 11:29pmWhere is the AFL at with its investigation?
The AFL is working with Carlton to understand what went wrong on Thursday night and how it can avoid it from happening again.
We don’t have details on exactly what happened and we won’t be going into speculation.
WorkSafe has confirmed it is conducting preliminary inquiries into the matter.
3h agoWed 22 Apr 2026 at 11:28pmWhy are we carrying the press conference?
First and foremost the health and wellbeing of Elijah is paramount. The 23-year-old is in hospital, is being looked after, and has a strong and caring family around him.
The purpose of this coverage is to understand how Carlton missed the signs that Hollands was struggling given it was picked up by fans in the crowd.
We’re hoping that Voss can shed some light on that matter, particularly if it helps the AFL stop a similar incident from happening in the future.
3h agoWed 22 Apr 2026 at 11:23pmMichael Voss set to speak to media
Good morning.
Carlton coach Michael Voss is set to speak to journalists this morning for the first time since young Blues star Elijah Hollands was hospitalised following a mental health incident last Thursday night during the game against Collingwood.
This is a regularly scheduled press conference from the Blues, so there is a chance that Voss won’t address the matter, but we’re here if he does.