Carlton ‘left high and dry’ in Elijah Hollands controversy as ex-club psychologist criticises AFL

Carlton has been “left out in the cold” concerning its management and reaction to the ongoing situation involving Elijah Hollands, as noted by a former AFL club psychologist.

In a chat with The Age, Jacqui Louder, who previously worked as a psychologist for Collingwood, stated that the broader system should receive the majority of criticism, while the club should be commended for successfully keeping Hollands on the field for the last three years.

The Blues are currently undergoing an internal investigation, which will culminate in findings presented to the AFL. WorkSafe Victoria is also examining the club’s conduct.

“There is a club here being left out in the cold, and no one is recognising the considerable effort they’ve put in over three years to sustain this young man’s career,” Louder remarked.

“Everyone is eager to discuss mental health, but we psychologists are on the front line every day, fighting the good fight,” she added.

Louder, who spent eight seasons with Collingwood, left her role this season. She was present with players on match days and worked closely with individuals who experienced challenges similar to Hollands.

She expressed strong criticism of the AFL’s cap on medical spending, highlighting that it jeopardises player safety.

“When you’re constrained by how much you can invest in your professionals, you’re inevitably limiting the level of care that is achievable,” she explained.

“The current situation has resulted in more inexperienced practitioners than ever before… and when the system does this, it raises risks; the risk being that you can’t always be available or have your psychologist present at every match or in every crucial moment.”

The Age reported that Blues staff opted to let Hollands play, given their success in managing his mental health episodes during matches previously. The AFL has requested a rationale for this decision as part of the Blues’ review.

Each club’s $7.675 million soft cap for the football department includes a mandated minimum expenditure on mental health, yet the distribution of those funds is determined by each club’s discretion.

Louder likened the efforts of club psychologists and medical staff to a duck paddling above water, stressing that the AFL should avoid penalising the Blues, as no one had acted with “deliberate malice.”

“Every single day the psychologists and medical personnel in the field deal with numerous issues that don’t come to light because we strive to maintain our players’ privacy and respect, all while minimising public scrutiny,” she remarked.

“Tragically, one incident occurred on the field, sparking a backlash.

“You shouldn’t impose penalties when no deliberate wrongdoing has taken place. I’m confident that no club would intentionally endanger their players, but there are countless unpredictable elements each day, both on game days and otherwise, and we are all doing our utmost.

“Sometimes you need to observe situations unfold to determine if they are appropriate or not. If we intervene and remove a player from play, we might inadvertently create a larger issue.”