Elijah Hollands Biography

Elijah Hollands was made to wait before he broke into Gold Coast's senior team late last season. But now, as he enters his third campaign with the Suns, the exciting midfielder has plans to stay there.

"I want to play every week," Hollands said.

"That's the starting point. I want to play 23 games and then the finals as well. I want to play my role every week and be someone who's relied upon in the group and by the back end of the season hopefully I'm recognised as someone who is a key component of the side."

Elijah Hollands is the Rising Star nominee for round 21 of 2022.

Hollands gathered 23 disposals, took nine marks, and booted two goals, along with 521 metres gained at 78 percent efficiency in the Suns' loss to the Hawks.

Elijah Hollands makes his AFL debut for Gold Coast at the Gabba with 10 disposals (7 kicks and 3 handballs), 5 marks, 3 tackles and 2 goals in a 17-point loss to Brisbane.

After a long battle, former top-10 draft pick Elijah Hollands will finally make his debut for Gold Coast against Brisbane this week.

Hollands has had to wait almost two seasons to play his first senior game after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his 2020 draft year.

"It has been a journey coming in with the rehab group and not getting stuck into footy until late last year in my first season," Hollands said.

"I’ve definitely got the confidence I’m ready to go out there and I know if I bring my best footy I’ll be able to perform and match it with the best."

Elijah Hollands signs a two-year deal to stay with the Suns until the end of 2024.

Hollands was taken by the Suns in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft midway through his rehabilitation from a ruptured ACL. After fully recovering midway through last year, the 19-year-old played three VFL games to springboard him to a terrific pre-season.

"I've got a lot of confidence in my body now, the knee is a thing of the past, I don't even think about it any more," he said.

Gold Coast select Elijah Hollands with pick No.7 in the 2020 National Draft.

Elijah Hollands remains a top draft prospect despite undergoing a knee reconstruction in his draft year.

"We were doing a full ground drill and I was leading up as a forward. The footy got kicked over my head a little bit so I was backing back to jump for the mark and as I did that I landed and my knee buckled as I came down," Hollands said.

"In my head I ruled out any ligament damage because I thought I heard a crack. I found out the next day that my judgment was very wrong."

Messages began pouring in from teammates, recruiters and AFL players on Instagram, while most Richmond players and officials called after he had trained there over summer.

"With all the messages that I got I had a fair bit of reassurance that I was lucky enough to play some good footy last year and got some exposure in the championships playing where there was a lot of recruiters watching," Hollands said.

"I got some reassurance there, but there was, and still is, a little bit of doubt that I might not be able to show as much as other boys will be able to show this year. But that's out of my control now and there isn't much I can do to change that."