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Troubled Blue “closing in” on SSP lifeline after delisting
SEN • January 20th, 2026 12:14 pm
Troubled Carlton midfielder Elijah Hollands is closing in on an AFL lifeline at the Blues, according to SEN’s Sam Edmund.
The 23-year-old was delisted by Carlton in October with a year to run on his contract after battling mental health and alcohol issues in 2025.
While Hollands was axed by the Blues, the club offered him the opportunity to train this pre-season with hopes of reviving his career via the Supplemental Selection Period.
Now, according to Edmund, the former No. 7 pick has done everything right this summer as he looks set to be retained by the club.
“The supplemental selection period window is open at the moment, right up to the commencement of the season, basically,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“Elijah Hollands had a really challenging 2025, but he’s closing in on another crack at Carlton, I reckon. He hasn’t put a foot wrong.
“He’s healthy on and healthy off the field, he's done everything. There's no guarantee, clearly, nothing's been announced, and Carlton will most likely wait until the absolute deadline, but there's a level of understanding that if should he stay fit and healthy, then he's in.
“A few other clubs had reached out regarding him, but the Blues know he's got the talent, they just, understandably needed to see the commitment and the reliability for a couple of months, and they've got that so far.
“Certainly, Elijah Hollands is closing in on another crack at the Blues.”
While Hollands impressed in his first season for Carlton in 2024 where he played 22 games, he featured just five times in 2025 as his career went off the rails.
Coach Michael Voss even told SEN in September that the Blues told Hollands to seek a move away during the trade period.
Having shown Hollands some tough love, Kane Cornes credited the Blues for making the talented but troubled player prove himself this pre-season.
“How magnificently did they manage this, Carlton?” Cornes asked.
“Vossy joined Kingy and myself on Fireball soon after the season had finished, and he was as honest on a player as I've seen.
“Clearly, they were absolutely at their wits end with this player. Then there were no guarantees through the trade period, and they were happy to explore that.
“He gave probably extra insight than what most clubs would of a player facing similar challenges.
“Now it feels like they’ve managed this perfectly. At 23, I think he should have 10 years of footy ahead of him, he’s that good.
“This is the best way that I think I've seen a club manage a problem player for a while.”
Will White is also training at Carlton in hopes of an SSP spot after being delisted by the Blues at the end of the 2025 season. After Jesse Motlop injured his ACL, there’s list spots for both players should the club go in that direction.
