AFL fines Carlton A$75,000 over Hollands mental health episode

Australian rules football club Carlton was fined 75,000 Australian dollars (about 54,000 U.S. dollars) on Tuesday for failing to promptly remove player Elijah Hollands from a game amid signs of a mental health episode.

The 24-year-old midfielder played in Carlton's Australian Football League match against Collingwood on April 16 in Melbourne. Video footage captured Hollands appearing confused and moving erratically on the field. Observers also noted unusual behavior during his warmup, including a goal kick that traveled only a few meters. He was admitted to a hospital five days later.

Australian Football League chief executive Andrew Dillon said sufficient visual cues, performance data from the game and knowledge of Hollands' history indicated he should have been taken off earlier. "The failure to remove Hollands from play earlier brought the game into disrepute," Dillon stated. He emphasized the charge targeted the club rather than individuals. The fine will go to Headspace, the AFL's youth mental health partner.

Dillon described the incident as unprecedented. "What transpired during the game was something we haven't seen before, and while Elijah did undergo checks, he should...