AFL review issues Blue with $75,000 fine for handling of mental health episode

The AFL has accepted that Elijah Hollands should have been taken off the field earlier in the Blues’ sixth-round clash with the Magpies when he suffered a mental health issue, citing visual cues, in-match performance data and information about his personal circumstances.

The Blues were fined $75,000 for bringing the game into disrepute, and league chief executive Andrew Dillon expressed hope on Tuesday that Hollands would still return to playing. But he said the league’s investigation could not definitively rule out the role of the substances in the Dutch incident and emphasized that its findings were based on what officials saw at night.

An AFL source with knowledge of the situation confirmed the Blues were accused of bringing the game into disrepute and that Hollands was not covered by the medically fit to play rule because it was more difficult to sustain the charge that he was medically unfit despite being later diagnosed with a mental health incident.

He did not specify those responsible for “bringing the game into disrepute”. As Dillon said at the press conference, “These findings are made collectively against Carlton Football Club and not against any individual.”

Notably, the charge did not question the conduct of any member of Carlton’s medical team, which was staunchly defended by the Blues.

“What we can detect is based on visual cues and performance data. Other information I can’t at this time,” Dillon said.

This accumulation of evidence, rather than any one moment, formed the backbone of the AFL’s conclusion that Carlton should have taken action earlier in Hollands’ match against Collingwood at the MCG.

To put it bluntly: the signs were there and they came together.

“Based on visual cues, performance data, as well as an understanding of Elijah’s individual circumstances, he should have been removed from the game sooner,” Dillon said.

But in a carefully worded statement from the Blues later on Tuesday, they seemingly avoided taking full responsibility for the situation.

“On 23 April the club submitted a detailed and factual statement to the AFL regarding Elijah Hollands and the circumstances surrounding the club’s round six match.

“This statement made clear the club’s position that it supports its people, who are highly respected professionals who work with the highest level of integrity and genuine care for all players and staff who represent the football club.

“The league decided today that the decision to remove Holland from the field should be made before the 20th minute of the last quarter.

“The club will donate $75,000 to Headspace, a national youth mental health foundation that provides early intervention mental health services to youth.

“The club understands the public’s interest in providing further information on this matter, but cannot disclose sensitive and proprietary information.

“In addition, it would be inappropriate to provide additional public comment while the WorkSafe investigation is ongoing.”

When asked about Hollands’ future, Dillon said a return to football would be up to the player himself but the AFL would support that path to return.

“He’s a young man who’s going to make the most of his life… I hope he plays again, if that’s what he wants to do,” Dillon said.

It’s the clearest statement yet of how the AFL arrived at a finding that has been dominating the competition for the last fortnight: Carlton’s response on the night fell short not because of a single missed call, but because multiple indicators were not addressed quickly enough.

Carlton chief executive Graham Wright said the Blues’ support for Hollands, through the club, “stems from a genuine interest and understanding of him and his difficulties”.

“Our club has the unwavering support of medical and medical staff who continue to act with the highest level of professionalism, integrity and genuine care for all our players and staff,” Wright added.

“We accept the outcome to enable all parties to move forward, while continuing to ensure that the health and wellbeing of our people remains a priority.

“Whilst our process with the AFL is now complete, we have not lost sight of ensuring Elijah and his family continue to receive all the support and care they need throughout this time. The messages of support our club has received on their behalf have been meaningful and we thank everyone who has taken the time to do so.”

“Elijah is currently taking the time necessary to prioritize his health and well-being and will continue to do so with our full support.”

Laura Kane, the league’s head of health, safety and football operations, said the case exposed a critical gap in matchday systems: While physical injuries are managed by strict, well-understood protocols, mental health issues remain more fluid and are more difficult to manage in real time.

“While our physical injury protocols are strong and well understood, mental health presentations can be variable and complex,” said Kane.

“What happened during the match was something we have never seen before… and it should not have been left to this time.”

The investigation, technically carried out by Carlton but overseen by Kane and the AFL, fell short of identifying individual failings within the club, instead framing the breach as a collective failure in the club’s matchday environment.

The $75,000 fine was announced Tuesday, along with more details about how the league evaluated the incident and, based on the findings, why it escalated to this point.

Dillon confirmed the AFL was comfortable with Hollands being allowed to start the match, but drew a firm line on what happened next.

“We saw that he shouldn’t have been on the field for so long,” he said.

The AFL has refused to detail specific medical information, including the exact nature of Hollands’ condition, citing confidentiality. However, Dillon made clear that the investigation relied heavily on observable factors accessible to those inside the game.

“There was a large audience that was observing the visual cues that Andrew was talking about,” Kane added, suggesting that concerns extend beyond the emergency medical team.

The case quickly became one of the most confronting welfare issues of the AFL’s modern era, not just because of what unfolded at the MCG, but also because of what it revealed about the limits of existing systems.

Kane said the incident would now lead to a significant overhaul of mental health management across the AFL, with the league announcing a series of reforms designed to standardize how clubs respond to similar scenarios.

These include the establishment of a dedicated AFL health and welfare management committee, the deployment of full-time psychologists to AFL and AFLW programs and the development of industry-wide standards on “psychological fitness to play”.

The league will also review the football department’s soft cap settings regarding medical staff recruitment; This is an acknowledgment that, although deemed adequate in the Carlton case, resourcing remains a wider pressure point.

“We need to make sure we have the right resources to support our players and we will review that,” Kane said.

The AFL also plans to expand mental health literacy among club staff ahead of Spud’s Game and hold a roundtable with media outlets as well as the Black Dog Institute and the Danny Frawley Centre.

“This needs to be about care, openness and action, and that’s bigger than a club and a night out,” Kane said.

The AFL refrained from criticizing individuals at Carlton; Dillon argued that this decision was consistent with the nature of the violation.

“This is a collective responsibility and this is the right place for it,” he said.

The league also confirmed that Carlton had sufficient resources to manage the situation both before and on match day; This was a result that shifted the focus directly to decision-making under pressure.

“Carlton had the resources to support Elijah… well before the sixth round game,” said Kane.

“Did they have enough fun on game day? Yes, they did.”

Dillon acknowledged that a separate WorkSafe investigation was ongoing but did not confirm how that process was initiated.

The AFL boss acknowledged there were “mixed views” within the company when reflecting on the saga, but said the league’s priority was to respond in a way that improved the system rather than simply punishing the outcome.

“When you encounter an event like this, it’s how you react and how you get better,” Dillon said.

He argued that this response should also ensure that the game remains a place where players feel safe to seek help, rather than a place where mental health issues are a barrier to participation.

“Mental health is an issue facing our entire society,” said Kane.

“We have the opportunity to be advocates for what makes good mental health.”

Hollands suffered a mental health issue on the field against the Magpies on 16 April. He was later taken to hospital.

Following an extensive internal investigation, Carlton submitted its review of the decision to allow Hollands to play against Collingwood to the AFL. The Blues’ view is that the decisions have been made in good faith in this unprecedented situation, with Hollands’ health and welfare at the forefront.

Carlton coach Michael Voss passionately defended the club’s staff and the Blues engaged lawyers with workplace expertise to resolve the complex matter.

The AFL is also keen to use its findings to help resolve such issues in the future.

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