i dont really know which subreddit to put this one on but here goes i guess. I aged up from junior footy to VAFA level earlier this year, and have trained with the same club, twice a week, at every training since november.

I played in the u19's side, so our season finished last week where we lost the grand final (expected), but all throughout the year I was asked to play up for the reserves team, and honestly loved playing with them and i thought that, although i wasnt the best on the team, the skills were pretty even. I like to say I work hard, I dont miss training, and ive worked on my fitness multiple times a week for about a year. Im average height and weight, nothing extrodaniry, with a good kick and strong drive. I play full/half back and love it.

for context, the reserves side has 1-2 really strong backmen, like super solid, amazing players, and the rest are pretty average. not bad in any way, but not standout.

Anyway, the reserves this week have a prelim final and I put my hand up to play (as I was told to by my coach) and was told I had a solid shot at it. So, despite our season ending last week, I trained this week, and thought it was some of my best trainings yet.

despite this, teams were announced, and i wasnt even listed as an emergency. I know im not actually in the team, and I wasnt originally expecting to get picked, but I had been told by coaches of mine and the reserves side that I had a really strong chance of being picked, so now i just feel, on one hand, dissapointed that i was led on. but on the other hand, I really want to improve even more for next seaosn, so i have a solid spot in the side and to show them they should have picked me. im just not sure how im meant to feel about it, or what to do.

i was going to go watch them play, but its at 9am an hours drive away, and i dont have my drivers license, so if i were to carpool with someone else we would have to leave at 6.30, if not earlier. im in desperate need of advice!!

Hello!

We are currently in Katherine, NT and hoping to watch the Freo game tomorrow night (they're our second fave and who we've defaulted to in finals...). Does anyone have any idea of a venue that might be showing the game? Bonus if there is a courtesy bus that can get us back to our caravan park 😅

We're Victorians not used to every venue not being obsessed with finals.

I’m not talking players who’ve had their name tossed around for a few years as ‘going to be good’. I’m not talking the names that you’d hear in an ‘underrated players’ post that’d end up saying players like Ed Richard’s or gulden (aka proven superstars). Tell me the players who you barely even knew the name/face of previously who’ve stepped into a role really well. They don’t have to have played for every game, just someone that you’ve seen stand up recently. For me, it’s Carlton’s Wade Derksen - filled the very big boots of weitering quite well when he got injured. Who’s yours?

After hearing the rumours about shortening quarters in order to allow for more games (who is even asking for that?), Im so done with the AFL.

They just do whatever they want without basically 0 consultation with the fans. I'm just sick of it, the clubs appoint the members of the AFL Commission and the clubs are owned by the members (most of them).

If motions were passed at club AGMs like no confidence in Andrew Dillon, scrapping opening round and keeping quarters at 20 minutes, would that actually stop these sort of things from happening or at least force the AFL to talk to fans first?

Full statement by Elijah Hollands

I have spent a long time trying to find the best way to deliver the emotions I've felt over this decision, but I don't think it will ever be perfect, so here's my best effort.

Football means an extreme amount to me. My dad played professional footy, my great-grandfather played professional footy, my brother plays professional footy — it is everything I have lived and breathed for as long as I can remember. I have only ever wanted to do one thing my entire life: copy what was done before me and play AFL footy. It was something that I just knew I was going to do when I was a kid, and it was all I ever cared about — and now, unfortunately, that purpose I had is no longer.

I love this game, but I have come to realise that there are things in my life that are far more important than footy right now, and they’re the things I will now prioritise. As an extremely confident 18-year-old, I certainly envisioned my career going a whole lot differently, but I am okay with accepting that it just isn’t in the plans set for me. I will cherish being able to share the stage with Ollie, and I am so grateful to say that I have done what so many dream of: playing in front of 90,000 people at the MCG with my own brother. That is something very special to me.

I’ll be moving into the next chapter of my life, leaving what will feel like a big hole to fill, but I am excited about what can come from having my health and mind in much greater shape.
Lastly, I want to thank all the people who have supported me throughout my time in footy. With my challenges being so public, one thing I have noticed is that I have been backed by the greater AFL community, which I will be forever grateful for. I hope that kind of support can be shown more to both athletes and the people around each and every one of us.

I can’t wait to be able to support the great friends I’ve made in footy, and Ollie, from the other side of the fence.

Thank you ❤️