Carlton coach Michael Voss calls out 'bullying' in the media coverage since Elijah Hollands's hospitalisation

Michael Voss has hit out at what he described as "bullying" behaviour in relation to Elijah Hollands's hospitalisation and called for more understanding from the media.

Footage showed Hollands acting erratically during the game and struggling to kick the ball in the warm-up, however the Blues kept the 23-year-old on the field for much of Carlton's MCG clash against Collingwood last week.

The Blues subsequently announced that Hollands had been admitted to hospital and had suffered a mental health episode during the match.

The AFL has requested that Carlton explain what they knew about Hollands's mental state before taking to the field.

Voss was repeatedly questioned about the incident in his weekly press conference, with the Blues coach defending the process his club went through and hitting back at the public way the dicussion took place.

"We've, unfortunately. rather than make this a private challenge, we've made this a public event," Voss said.

"So the commentary, the conversation, the ball by ball play, we've unfortunately made it that and in some ways, I'll be really honest, it's felt like a bordering on bullying.

"When you start to think about that as a concept, about our people, that's really important, that's who I care about the most.

"So rather than show compassion and empathy through a really difficult situation, we are being really judgemental with knowing little facts, without understanding history and background, and we've drawn our own outcomes.

"We can't judge that in a binary way. It's complex. It's situational. So we've got to find that middle ground between that type of care, but also providing the support that we need and the processing behind it.

"I think we acknowledge that. But that's an industry conversation. If we're going to have this proper conversation about mental health, then let's have it. But this is an industry conversation and the healthy conversation will be how we support our people in an environment that absolutely demands so much from our people and having a healthy respect between what you need to report on the game and what we need to provide in our environment to our players.

But I won't solve that here. I just won't. Because the people that are in charge of the game are largely the biggest ones that can make the significant change that's needed."

The Blues boss said it was important that Hollands was given the space to play the game and that "the last couple of years haven't been smooth sailing" for either Hollands or Carlton since Hollands came out about his mental health struggles.

"Elijah, two years ago or thereabouts, showed enormous courage to come forward and talk about his challenges and his issues," Voss said.

"And the last couple of years haven't been smooth sailing for him or us.

"But what we have done is, and our team of people have done, is provided amazing mentoring, counselling, guidance, specialists and professionals, both inside and out [of the club], all for the opportunity for a young man to be able to have a career.

"All through the discussions that I've had with [Hollands] has been very little to do about football and everything about to do about life.

"Ultimately, when you get those things right, now we can talk about the football.

"But I don't think you should say that there has not been amazing care, love, support, empathy, accountability throughout this whole process.

"And when we have challenging times like what we did over the weekend and you start to sift through this information, you just cannot possibly come to the conclusion that it is about care.

"We accept that we need to look at process. So, and that process will show itself over whatever time it needs to be. But there is that care."

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