Potential number one draft pick Elijah Hollands suffers season-ending ACL injury
It has come at the worst possible time. One of the candidates for the No. 1 pick has suffered a cruel blow on the eve of his top-age year. But his talent manager is confident he has shown enough to AFL recruiters.
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Potential number one draft pick Elijah Hollands has been cruelled by a season-ending ACL injury.
The Murray Bushrangers product, son of former Richmond player Ben, is touted as one of the best players from the 2020 crop but will play no further part after the untimely setback on the eve of his top-age year.
Hollands suffered the knee injury while training with his local club the Wodonga Bulldogs and will see a surgeon early next week.
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The versatile tall forward shone last season, playing every game for Vic Country as a bottom-ager in last year’s under-18 National Championships and captaining the U17 All Stars side in their Grand Final curtain raiser.
Murray Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson is confident Hollands, who has impressed both on and off the field, has shown enough to remain an attractive proposition for AFL clubs.
“As disappointing as it is we know he’ll do the work with his rehab and he’ll be ready to go this time next year … hopefully at an AFL club,” Wilson said.
“Elijah was predicted to go pretty early in this year’s draft but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“I think we are quietly confident knowing what they’ve seen and the quality of the character that they’d be pretty confident in drafting him.”
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While the injury is a blow to Hollands’ chances of being the first name called out on draft night, significant knee injuries haven’t stopped clubs drafting prodigious talents early.
Most recently, Carlton selected Brodie Kemp in the first round despite being sidelined with a ruptured ACL for most of his draft year.
“There’s been lots of cases in the past where players have had season ending injuries and we’re just hopeful he has enough runs on the board from last season to be considered,” Wilson said.
Wilson believes Hollands “ticks a lot of boxes” as a key forward who can move into the midfield. The prized prospect has impressed with his strong hands overhead, accurate kicking on both sides and his work at ground level.
Hollands rated elite for pressure points, tackles and score involvements for the Murray Bushrangers in the NAB League last season.