Carlton utility Elijah Hollands is expected to return from his personal issues to play his first official game in the VFL this weekend, as the club awaits confirmation that star forward Harry McKay will be ready for Thursday’s crucial clash with Collingwood.
Hollands has finished his period away from the Blues for personal matters, but will not be considered for the seniors due to both selection integrity and the likelihood that he would need to gain fitness before he could play in the AFL, according to club sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Elijah Hollands celebrates a goal during the 2024 season.Credit: Getty
The Blues are hopeful of regaining McKay – also absent for personal reasons – after the key forward played in an internal VFL practice match last Saturday, but his selection in the seniors was yet to be confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
Hollands took personal leave, stepping away from training and playing on the eve of the season to deal with personal issues that made it difficult for him to deal with the demands of the game. He required some welfare support.
McKay’s potential selection would mean the Blues would have to drop a tall player, and they will likely persist with Brodie Kemp in attack if McKay plays. They have been keen to see Charlie Curnow and McKay supported by Kemp, who booted five goals in the narrow loss to the Western Bulldogs last Friday night.
The Blues would have to drop either defender Nick Haynes, Lewis Young (who played forward and kicked two goals against the Bulldogs) or even Mitch McGovern to make room for McKay, given that Jack Silvagni has been in excellent form and was among the best Blues playing in defence on Aaron Naughton, restricting the key forward to one goal and few disposals.
Harry McKay is no certainty to face the Magpies.Credit: Getty Images
Hollands joined his younger brother Ollie at Carlton at the end of the 2023 season after the Gold Coast traded him for a third-round draft pick. Hollands was charged with possession of cocaine shortly after he was traded from the Suns and received a two-match AFL ban for “conduct unbecoming”. He had been found in possession of cocaine at the Star Casino on the Gold Coast that September after finishing his season.
Carlton said then they had known of his charge before making the trade for Hollands, who did not record a conviction and was placed on a two-month good behaviour bond and ordered to complete a drug diversion course.
Hollands, who can play forward and in the midfield, played 22 games in his first season with the Blues. The unavailability of McKay and Hollands has stretched Carlton’s questionable depth over the past two games, as Curnow and midfield gun Sam Walsh have been unable to perform at their peaks following injuries in pre-season that impacted on their early fitness.
Injury heartbreak for Bombers recruit
Scott Spits
Essendon are bracing for bad news about mature-aged recruit Tom Edwards, who suffered a suspected ACL knee injury at training on Tuesday.
Tom Edwards (right) and Sam Durham both took unconventional routes on to Essendon’s list.Credit: AFL Photos
Edwards made headlines for heading straight into the AFL from his job as a high school teacher, and WAFL footballer, in Perth.
The 24-year-old, 191-centimetre forward was taken by the Bombers in the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP) this year after he booted four goals against the Western Bulldogs in wintry conditions at Whitten Oval.
Edwards went on to make his debut against Adelaide, slotting another three majors. His and the early season debuts of Isaac Kako and Saad El-Hawli have given Bombers fans plenty to smile about as their side continues to rebuild.
Essendon confirmed Edwards injured his knee in a training mishap on Tuesday morning, but wouldn’t be able to confirm a ruptured ACL until they received his scan results.
The Edwards news is the latest bitter blow on the injury front for an Essendon side already missing the likes of Darcy Parish (back), Elijah Tsatas (hand), Peter Wright (ankle) and Kyle Langford (hamstring).
The Bombers have the bye this weekend before they confront the currently winless Melbourne in a vital clash for both teams at the MCG on Saturday week.
‘Comfortable with where Richmond landed on that one’: Dillon on Balta
AAP
The AFL will allow Richmond’s Noah Balta to return to playing before being sentenced for assaulting a man outside a NSW Riverina club.
Balta has pleaded guilty to assault and will be sentenced on April 22 for his attack on 27-year-old Thomas Washbrook outside the Mulwala Water Ski Club.
Richmond key-position star Noah Balta.Credit: AFL Photos
Balta was suspended for six matches by his club – two of them in the pre-season – in a sanction ratified by the AFL after the incident on December 30 last year.
The suspension expires this weekend, with Balta eligible to return in Richmond’s round-five game against Fremantle on April 13.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the league was “comfortable” in allowing Balta to play before being sentenced in court.
“By the time Noah is eligible to play again he would have served a four-week AFL suspension as well as missing a couple of weeks of practice matches,” Dillon told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday,
“Ultimately, it will be a decision from Richmond, whether they select him straight into the AFL or into the VFL side.”
Dillon said the AFL wouldn’t step in again before Balta’s sentencing.
“We have worked with Richmond and we’re comfortable with the suspension and the suspension that Noah has served … we’re comfortable with where Richmond landed on that one,” Dillon said.
Richmond coach Adem Yze signalled after last Saturday’s game that Balta would be an automatic selection when available.
“Oh, no doubt. We’ve handed down that suspension, we feel like that’s the right amount of time, six games is a fair whack,” Yze said.
Balta, 25, pleaded guilty in the Corowa Local Court to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which in NSW carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.
