NEED TO KNOWThe Carlton Football Club said Elijah Hollands was admitted to a hospital on Monday, April 20
According to multiple outlets, Hollands suffered a mental health episode during a match against Collinwood on Thursday, April 17
"Our primary focus remains on caring for Elijah, making sure he continues to receive the medical and wellbeing support he needs," Carlton's CEO said
An Australian football player has been hospitalized after suffering a mental health episode mid-game.
The Carlton Football Club announced that Elijah Hollands was admitted to the hospital on Monday, April 20, after he displayed concerning behavior during a match on Thursday, April 16.
"While the Club acknowledges the public's interest, it again asks that the privacy of Elijah and his family be respected," the club said in a statement.
"This request for privacy extends to the media to please not report or speculate on Holland's location and private health information," the club added.
According to ESPN, Hollands, 23, had been ruled out of traveling with the team to Perth days before the match because of a "mental health episode."
The club's CEO Graham Wright told The Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the team was "aware that he was struggling in the game" against Collinwood. The outlet reported that Hollands was still "eager to play" despite the mental health episode.
"Our guys were dealing with him in the game and obviously knew that he was having some problems," Wright said.
The team is now "in the process of going through all the circumstances leading up to the game, two or three weeks prior to the game," Wright told ABC, noting that they're taking the situation "very seriously."
"Thursday night presented unprecedented and complex circumstances," Wright said, per ABC. "Our primary focus remains on caring for Elijah, making sure he continues to receive the medical and wellbeing support he needs."
Hollands has had staff "working alongside" him "over a long period of time now, both on and off the field, providing every resource possible to ensure his welfare is paramount," Wright told the outlet.
ESPN reported that Hollands took personal leave from Carlton twice last year, and later shared that he had been struggling with his mental health and experiencing issues with alcohol.
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The Guardian reported that footage from the match later posted online appeared to show Hollands "confused and exhibiting erratic behavior."
Carlton coach Michael Voss said Hollands was "pretty shattered" after the events of Thursday.
“I spoke to him after the game and he was really disappointed with how he started,” Voss said that night, per The Guardian. “He was really upset and feels like he’s let me down."
Voss added, “He feels really disappointed with his performance. With the importance of the night, he feels like he’s let people down. But we just have to keep supporting people through those situations.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.