Carlton coach Michael Voss is optimistic that Ollie Hollands will be back on the field next weekend after the club opted for the young midfielder to miss Saturday’s match during a particularly challenging time for his family.
Ollie’s older brother and fellow Blues player, Elijah Hollands, was hospitalised on Monday following what the club referred to as a mental health incident during Carlton’s game against Collingwood on April 16.
Though Ollie joined the team in Perth for Saturday’s encounter with Fremantle, which ended in a narrow 14-point defeat, the decision was made not to feature the 22-year-old amidst the emotional weight of his brother’s circumstances.
“This week has been significant for everyone involved, particularly for the family,” Voss shared during his post-match press conference.
“He was keen to play. He’s an incredibly competitive player.
“However, we collectively felt that, given the events of the week, it would be more prudent for him to sit this one out.
“He’s in a positive mindset, but we determined it was the best course of action.”
Ollie Hollands of Carlton in Perth prior to the game against Fremantle. Getty
It is anticipated that Ollie Hollands will make his return to face St Kilda at Marvel Stadium next Saturday evening.
“Being around his teammates was essential,” Voss remarked regarding Ollie’s journey west.
“Football clubs have a unique way of supporting their members during tough times. We often discuss the challenges we’ve faced, but the way clubs come together to care for their people is something truly special. At the end of the day, we are communities, and fostering that sense of belonging is crucial.
“It was, in fact, a valuable opportunity for us to travel and unite as a football team with a common goal.”
Despite the Blues now sitting on a record of 1-6 for the season, extending their losing streak to five matches, Voss expressed pride in the resilience displayed by his squad in the face of adversity.
“When we reflect on this match and consider the week’s events, it was vital for us to show some resilience,” the coach stated.
“It’s easy to talk about our values as a football club, but ultimately, how we carry ourselves on the field is paramount.
“Each time we encountered a challenge, we fought back. This match doesn’t always flow in your favour, but the choice of how to respond is ours. I truly believe we did that throughout the week.
“We struggled to assert our presence at stoppages early on… but we fought back. We had some centre square bounces lead to goals against us… but we fought back. In the last quarter, they managed to score a few goals, and we could have thrown in the towel. Instead, we fought back.
“We’re definitely a more refined version of ourselves compared to a month ago. However, it’s clear that against a strong team like Fremantle, we need to do better at minimising scoring damage.”
The Blues have experienced repeated issues in maintaining leads during the second half of games recently.
Although they came up short on Saturday, they did win the final quarter, scoring 5.4 to Fremantle’s 5.0.
Voss characterised this as a “significant” correction.
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