Carlton club doctor Matt Chamberlain has taken personal leave in a sad fallout to the Elijah Hollands saga.
Channel 7’s Tom Morris revealed the fresh development on The Agenda Setters, and added that the respected medical professional is also considering his legal options, pending the outcome of the AFL’s investigation.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Carlton doctor takes leave amid Hollands investigation
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The AFL on Monday said they will take their time with the “delicate” situation after Carlton handed over their report into Hollands’ medical health episode two weeks ago.
Hollands only managed one ineffective disposal in an erratic and concerning performance that quickly prompted widespread commentary about how he was allowed to stay on the field for so long.
Last week, coach Michael Voss issued a passionate defence of his team’s involvement in the situation, claiming they have been “bullied” by the media.
Morris said Chamberlain took leave last weekend and is no certainty to return to the club this week either.
“I can reveal tonight that their club doctor, a very respected medical professional, Dr Matt Chamberlain, took leave on the weekend, personal leave, as a result of this saga,” he reported on The Agenda Setters.
“I’ve spoken to the Blues. They couldn’t confirm that he’d be even back this weekend for Carlton’s game. They hope he’s back as soon as possible, but they couldn’t confirm that as well.
“Now, in addition to that, I also understand that Chamberlain is considering his legal options should the AFL investigation come back in a way that dissatisfies him or potentially paints him in a light that he thinks is unfair.”
Caroline Wilson added that the doctors feel like they have been targeted in the investigation.
“It’s always been put to me that this was very much a medical investigation that was being carried out,” she said.
“It’s been led by Laura Kane. Now, she’s not only the footy operations boss, but she really runs all the medical side of things where footy is concerned.
“So I think that the doctors feel they’ve been targeted, and we heard Michael Voss, leap to everyone’s defence, really, the other day in a press conference that I felt missed the mark in many areas.
“But he was passionate in defending his staff, and I think probably he was talking about the doctors as much as anyone else.”
Carlton submitted their report to the AFL last week.
Asked about the league’s review of the Carlton report, AFL general manager of football performance Greg Swann offered his best wishes to Hollands after a “harrowing week for him and his family”.
He added his fellow AFL football department boss Laura Kane and her team were reviewing the Carlton report, which the league requested.
“There’s no rush on this. This is a really delicate matter … I haven’t seen anything play out like this, like it has publicly in this instance,” Swann said on Monday.
“So it will take as long as it does.”
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