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Hollands support grows as Worksafe probes Carlton

Shayne Hope and Oliver CaffreyAAP
Carlton's Elijah Hollands was admitted to hospital after suffering a mental health episode. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Camera IconCarlton's Elijah Hollands was admitted to hospital after suffering a mental health episode. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

Elijah Hollands' brother and Carlton teammate Ollie has publicly supported his older sibling as Worksafe Victoria begins to asks questions of the Blues and the AFL.

Carlton's management of Elijah Hollands' public mental health episode will come under scrutiny from Worksafe Victoria.

Hollands, 23, is currently in hospital following the Blues' game at the MCG against Collingwood last Thursday night.

Carlton and the AFL have been investigating the circumstances surrounding Hollands' concerning and erratic performance, in a game in which he earned only one disposal, which was ineffective.

Worksafe Victoria will begin asking questions of Carlton and the AFL in coming days about how Hollands took to the field in the state he was in.

"WorkSafe is assessing the matter to determine whether any action is required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act," a Worksafe Victoria spokesperson said in a statement to AAP on Tuesday.

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The watchdog will seek information from the club and the league in the next week before determining if there is any scope for a formal investigation.

When fronting a hastily organised press conference on Sunday morning, Carlton chief executive Graham Wright said he was yet to hear from Worksafe.

Also on Tuesday, Hollands' father and younger brother posted emotional messages of support.

Ollie, who has played 71 games for the Blues, said there were "no words" to describe how grateful he was for the support of Elijah.

"It's incredibly challenging watching your own brother go through something like this but the amount of support that we have received has been overwhelming and as a family we will be forever grateful," Ollie wrote in a post on Instagram.

The brothes' father Ben Hollands, who played eight games for Richmond in 1999, posted a portrait of his son dressed in his Carlton uniform in a public show of support.

"This is my beautiful boy," the Instagram post reads.

"For anyone in the midst of healing ? You are loved. You have a unique and defined purpose. You are seen whole.

"I know who my son is - and I will lift him up until he is restored in full."

Carlton released a statement on Monday night confirming Hollands was in hospital and asked for the privacy of the player and his family to be respected.

Last year, Hollands twice took personal leave from Carlton, and later revealed he had been battling mental ill-health and issues with alcohol.

His latest episode has led to calls from prominent players - including Geelong's Bailey Smith and Western Bulldogs' Rory Lobb - for a league-wide mental-health round.

On Tuesday, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and Sydney's Dean Cox raised concerns over the level and type of scrutiny modern players are put under.

"I've got no doubt that what our players are exposed to and what they have to deal with and manage from a critique point of view is a lot more challenging than it ever has been," Beveridge said.

Cox said pressure on players has "skyrocketed" since his playing days with West Coast.

Carlton have faced scrutiny over their handling of Hollands, including for allowing him back onto the field during the final quarter against Collingwood, but Beveridge was sympathetic.

"It's just a hugely challenging situation and I feel for them," Beveridge said.

Hollands, who turns 24 on Saturday, was delisted by the Blues at the end of last season, despite having a year to run on his contract.

He was invited to Carlton training over summer and impressed enough to win back a spot on the list.

Hollands has played all six games this season, averaging 18.4 possessions before his concerning outing against Collingwood.

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