Elijah Hollands Biography

Elijah Hollands reflects on the 'stress' of the trade period. The deadline-day deal in last year's trade period faced uncertainty throughout, however, as Hollands informed Gold Coast and the Blues that he had been charged with possession of an illicit substance at the end of the Suns' season.

Carlton coach Michael Voss and the club spoke to Hollands throughout and decided to go ahead with the trade, with Hollands since facing court and separately being struck with a two-game suspension to start the season from the AFL.

"To be honest it was pretty stressful because the main stress for me was figuring out if it was going to get done. What happened wasn't ideal and I had to acknowledge it with the footy club first, with both sides, and explain what happened. So we chatted through that and the club's been great at wrapping its arms around me since I came in," he said.

"I fronted up and explained it to them. There were a lot of nerves whether they were still going to go through with it or not. They were some of the things I had to acknowledge and take on responsibility for."

Elijah Hollands cops a two-match ban and a $ 5,000 suspended fine for a breach of the AFL's Illicit Drugs Policy.

Hollands appeared in Southport Magistrates Court last month after admitting to possession, with the court told his wallet was found in The Star casino with less than 1g of cocaine inside.

He was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to attend a drug diversion program, but he avoided a criminal conviction.

Elijah Hollands has been served notice to appear in court over possession of an illicit substance.

Carlton says it was made aware last month that Hollands had been served with the notice to appear, but it did not deter the club from recruiting him.

"An informed decision was then made to proceed with the recruitment and the Club will now provide the necessary support to Hollands. He will commence pre-season training upon its scheduled resumption in November," Carlton said in a statement.

Elijah Hollands will join his brother Ollie at Carlton in 2024 after being traded to the Blues from Gold Coast.

A deal for Hollands, the No.7 pick in the 2020 draft, was struck between the Suns and Blues on the final day of the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period.

The Blues have sent a future third-round selection and pick No.26 to the Suns for Hollands, in exchange for pick 28 and a future fourth-round pick.

"He's got attributes that we like. He's probably lacked some opportunity and has been played out of position. We see him in the front half causing some chaos and going through the midfield, so it’s a good fit," Carlton list boss Nick Austin said.

Elijah Hollands was made to wait before he broke into Gold Coast's senior team late last season. But now, as he enters his third campaign with the Suns, the exciting midfielder has plans to stay there.

"I want to play every week," Hollands said.

"That's the starting point. I want to play 23 games and then the finals as well. I want to play my role every week and be someone who's relied upon in the group and by the back end of the season hopefully I'm recognised as someone who is a key component of the side."

Elijah Hollands is the Rising Star nominee for round 21 of 2022.

Hollands gathered 23 disposals, took nine marks, and booted two goals, along with 521 metres gained at 78 percent efficiency in the Suns' loss to the Hawks.

Elijah Hollands makes his AFL debut for Gold Coast at the Gabba with 10 disposals (7 kicks and 3 handballs), 5 marks, 3 tackles and 2 goals in a 17-point loss to Brisbane.

After a long battle, former top-10 draft pick Elijah Hollands will finally make his debut for Gold Coast against Brisbane this week.

Hollands has had to wait almost two seasons to play his first senior game after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his 2020 draft year.

"It has been a journey coming in with the rehab group and not getting stuck into footy until late last year in my first season," Hollands said.

"I’ve definitely got the confidence I’m ready to go out there and I know if I bring my best footy I’ll be able to perform and match it with the best."

Elijah Hollands signs a two-year deal to stay with the Suns until the end of 2024.

Hollands was taken by the Suns in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft midway through his rehabilitation from a ruptured ACL. After fully recovering midway through last year, the 19-year-old played three VFL games to springboard him to a terrific pre-season.

"I've got a lot of confidence in my body now, the knee is a thing of the past, I don't even think about it any more," he said.

Gold Coast select Elijah Hollands with pick No.7 in the 2020 National Draft.

Elijah Hollands remains a top draft prospect despite undergoing a knee reconstruction in his draft year.

"We were doing a full ground drill and I was leading up as a forward. The footy got kicked over my head a little bit so I was backing back to jump for the mark and as I did that I landed and my knee buckled as I came down," Hollands said.

"In my head I ruled out any ligament damage because I thought I heard a crack. I found out the next day that my judgment was very wrong."

Messages began pouring in from teammates, recruiters and AFL players on Instagram, while most Richmond players and officials called after he had trained there over summer.

"With all the messages that I got I had a fair bit of reassurance that I was lucky enough to play some good footy last year and got some exposure in the championships playing where there was a lot of recruiters watching," Hollands said.

"I got some reassurance there, but there was, and still is, a little bit of doubt that I might not be able to show as much as other boys will be able to show this year. But that's out of my control now and there isn't much I can do to change that."