The AFL Players’ Association has issued the following statement attributed to AFLPA CEO, James Gallagher:

“The health, safety, and wellbeing of our members is the AFLPA’s number one priority. We welcome the thorough review that has been undertaken by the AFL and the club into the management of Elijah Hollands.

“We accept the finding that Elijah remained on the field for too long, which should not have happened. 

“We will continue to support Elijah and his family as he prioritises his health and wellbeing and acknowledge the club’s care and support for Elijah over a long period of time.

“The opportunity to improve governance, policy, resourcing and education to better support the mental health of players is an important outcome of this review. We look forward to undertaking due diligence and consultation with the AFL and key industry stakeholders to ensure the implementation meets the needs of players.”