Elijah Hollands described the Round 12 showdown against Port Adelaide as one of his standout victories since joining Carlton. Despite the challenge of Adelaide Oval and a short turnaround, the Blues surged in the final quarter, scoring eight goals to seal a commanding 36-point win.
“It was a fantastic win, definitely one of the better ones I’ve been involved in,” Hollands reflected. “To come away with the four points against a team in such good form, especially at a ground where we’ve historically struggled, was really satisfying.”
Executing their game plan consistently across all four quarters was a key focus for Carlton’s senior coach Michael Voss during the lead-up to the match.
After a closely contested first half, Carlton gradually gained momentum, eventually building a decisive lead. Hollands praised captain Patrick Cripps for his pivotal fourth-quarter performance, where Cripps scored two quick goals to ignite the team.
“In the last quarter, we knew we had to sustain our intensity for the entire game, and finishing strong like we did was a great feeling,” Hollands remarked.
Playing in a versatile role that blends forward and midfield duties, Hollands has become an integral part of Carlton’s lineup, contributing with speed, pressure, and scoring impact.