‘There was a bit of chatter’: Pie aware of Hollands talk on field

Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard was aware of talk on the field on Thursday night that Carlton’s Elijah Hollands was not right, but did not personally witness anything to raise an alarm.

Maynard was not opposed to Hollands directly in the match but overheard conversations on the ground among teammates who were surprised at the Carlton player’s behaviour.

Maynard’s comments follow a report from Age football journalist Caroline Wilson that Hollands had told a Collingwood player he’d been drinking.

“I wasn’t aware of what was going on, but I think there was a bit of chatter happening and I didn’t pay much attention to it at all and if I did, I definitely would have said something,” Maynard told this masthead on Monday.

“I overheard a few things, but as I said, I was too focused on the game to really understand what was actually going on. He was definitely around the area and people were chatting about it, but I was focused on playing the game and if I did notice something myself with Elijah I would have said something, but I was too focused on the game and I can understand why it’s such a big topic.”

Speaking on The Age’s Real Footy podcast on Monday, Wilson said the failure to pull Hollands from the field amounted to an unprecedented “level of alleged mismanagement by a footy club in terms of an on-field incident”.

Wilson also said Hollands had told Carlton he wanted to stay on the field, but that it was up to someone in the Blues hierarchy to overrule him.

“I have never seen this level of alleged mismanagement by a footy club in terms of an on-field incident,” Wilson told the podcast.

“Everyone saw it, it played out in front of our eyes. Carlton are being reviewed, their medical team primarily, but their coach and their footy boss will come into this too – the whole club will – as to how they allowed this player to play, to stay on the ground and to [go] back on again even after three-quarter-time.”

Wilson questioned Carlton players’ response, drawing a contrast with Melbourne players calling for help when Harrison Petty was struck with appeared to be delayed concussion symptoms against Brisbane on Sunday.

“You saw his [Petty’s] teammates get around him, show care and make sure something happened. [On Thursday night] you almost got the feeling, in the vision that I have now seen, that the Carlton players were looking away from this situation,” Wilson said.

Broadly, Maynard said he hoped that if he witnessed a teammate acting unusually he would say something to medical or coaching staff and was certain players at other clubs, including those at Carlton on Thursday night, would be similar.

“To be honest if I saw one of my teammates acting in such a way that Elijah was, then I would definitely say something and mention it to the hierarchy. But like I said, that is for Carlton to deal with their player, and everyone is doing the best they can to look after him and that is the issue here – to make sure he gets support around him to make sure his mental health is looked after.”

Wilson said it was valid to question whether Hollands had been drinking because it was relevant to how Carlton kept him on the ground.

“I think he [Hollands] said he wanted to keep playing, that’s my understanding; Elijah Hollands. But Michael Voss, too, why he let him play on and why Chris Davies, an experienced head of footy, didn’t come over the top of all of them, even if he wasn’t as close to the situation,” she said.

“One [Collingwood] player said he [Hollands] told one of the players he’d been drinking. There are Carlton people who had heard that as well. I put that allegation to people at Collingwood and Carlton and no one denied it, so I’m staggered that I’ve been targeted for saying it when clearly this is part of the story.

“It all goes to the alleged level of incompetence from Carlton, if in fact that is proven, that is why I think it is reportable, particularly when you’re getting a ‘no comment’ from everyone concerned and not a denial.”

Hollands played 60 per cent of the match and had one disposal.

Carlton said on Friday that Hollands had experienced a “mental health episode”. This masthead reported he had been assessed during the match, and that he had been able to work through similar episodes in the past.

This masthead reported on Friday that the club did not suspect substance abuse.

On Sunday, Carlton CEO Graham Wright was asked about Wilson’s report that Hollands had told the Magpies he’d consumed alcohol before the match.

“I heard that report yesterday, and I haven’t heard anything from Collingwood or the AFL, so no one’s come to us with anything from that,” Wright said.

“We were aware that he was struggling in the game, and he’s … had anxiety previously and panic attacks, and our guys were dealing with him in the game, obviously knew he was having some problems.”

Carlton had no direct knowledge of the Collingwood conversations around Hollands during the game and still had no evidence to suggest he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the game.

Hollands regular behaviour during a game is very twitchy and nervous and quite different to most other players making a diagnosis of any mental health episode more difficult to separate from what is his normal behaviour, a Carlton insider said.

The Carlton investigation into the Hollands matter which is being run by their medical staff with oversight from football boss Chris Davies and in liaison with AFL executive Laura Kane is expected to be finished before the end of the week.

Compounding a difficult weekend for Carlton, Lucas Camporeale went to hospital after suffering a lacerated kidney in the VFL.

Camporeale had suffered a heavy knee to his midriff when diving to spoil a ball and was assessed by doctors who found no structural damage. He was reassessed at half-time and felt fine and was eager to keep playing. It was only after the game he deteriorated and began to suffered abdominal pain and was sent to hospital as a precaution. A scan then revealed the kidney damage.

Lucas’ twin brother Ben Camporeale also suffered a concussion in the match. Lucas and Ben are the sons of former player Scott Camporeale.

Collingwood captain Darcy Moore, who is also the AFL Players Association president, did not want to be drawn into commenting on the Hollands issue.

“Clearly, a process is playing out with Carlton and the AFL at the moment. As a players’ association we have been involved in the process intimately over the last few days which is really encouraging, and a great sign. Our major concern is Elijah’s welfare,” he said.

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