Blues cut contracted duo; Merrett post endorses Solomon’s switch; Power great says Butters will leave

“In some of the darker times, I turned to alcohol to cope with some of the stresses I had been putting myself under, and the mental fatigue and battles I had been going through.” Hollands said.

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“It very much has been a thing I have done in isolation, which is obviously a battle. It hasn’t been a thing where I have been out with mates and taking things too far in public areas – it’s been in isolation and at home.”

Hollands spoke of the distress he suffered in the Blues’ defeat to Sydney in round 10, his last game for the club.

“I remember just feeling like a complete pedestrian out there,” Hollands said.

“In the last quarter I came off the ground and I just could not breathe. I went to the bench and told our psychologist I could not breathe – I could not settle down, [and] my head was spinning.

“I was almost having a mini-panic attack, which I had never experienced before out on the field.”

The exits of Hollands, Binns and White mean the Blues have delisted six players.

“These are always difficult decisions, but after careful consideration we’ve decided this is what is best for the Club and our list strategy moving forward,” Carlton list boss Nick Austin said of the delistings.

“We wish Jaxon all the best, and while we are not currently able to guarantee Elijah and Will a list spot for 2026, we will consider them both for train-on opportunities during the pre-season once the draft in November is completed.”

Solomon switches from Bombers boardroom to the coaching staff

Former Essendon hard man Dean Solomon has switched from the boardroom to Brad Scott’s coaching staff, a move that appears to have earned the approval of disgruntled Dons captain Zach Merrett.

The Bombers announced on Thursday night that Solomon, who has previously served as an interim senior coach of Gold Coast, had stepped down from the board led by his former teammate Andrew Welsh to become an assistant coach in charge of the team’s defence.

Dean Solomon (right) during his playing days.Credit: Vince Caligiuri

Solomon was a tough, talented defender who played in the famed 2000 premiership, and is a key figure, alongside Welsh, in the club’s effort to overcome recent instability and angst, which was inflamed by Merrett’s failed attempt to defect to Hawthorn during the trade period.

Zach Merrett posted the Dean Solomon announcement on his Instagram story.Credit: Instagram/zacharymerrett07

“When looking to fill the vacant position within our coaching team, Brad, Vozz, Daniel, and I were considering who is out there and the best available talent across the industry,” Welsh said in a statement.

“When it was first raised to me about Solly joining the coaching group, it made me consider what the best use for him at the club was. He has been invaluable to us on the Board, but taking into account everyone’s views, it was clear that it was an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up, and that’s when we first approached Solly about the role.

“Solly needed to take a lot into consideration, including relocating from NSW, but after careful thought, he embraced the opportunity, and we were rapt that he accepted this role as an Assistant Coach to get back into the trenches and help fast-track the development of the team.”

Merrett, who wears No.7 for the Bombers as Solomon did, posted the announcement to his Instagram story tagged with “#7”, suggesting the move could be a first step in healing his relationship with the club he wanted to leave.

Welsh said Solomon’s board replacement would have a strong football background.

“A process is already underway to fill Dean’s vacant board position, with that person having a football background to ensure we still maintain football expertise at board level. We expect to make an announcement on the new director in the coming weeks,” he said.

Why Port great says this Victorian club is in the box seat to lure Butters

Port Adelaide premiership great Chad Cornes says Zak Butters is likely to leave the club after the 2026 season, and believes one Victoria club is primed to win his services.

The Victorian-born Butters will arguably be the biggest free agent on the market next year when the Power onballer completes his current contract.

From enemies to friends? Port star Zak Butters gets a kick away as Bulldog Tom Liberatore moves in to tackle.Credit: AFL Photos

Cornes, who, before his recent axing as a Power assistant coach, worked with Butters over a long period of time, said the superstar midfielder is likely to leave Alberton.

“I love ‘Buttsy’, he’s such a great guy. If I had to make a prediction, I think he goes this time next year,” Cornes told SEN on Friday.

“I would be saying that he loves the Bulldogs, [he was] just a real hardcore Bulldogs supporter before he got drafted. I don’t want to make a big call too early.”

Butters, the Power vice captain, grew up in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

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“You do take that extra interest and admire what he’s been able to do,” Bulldogs men’s football manager Sam Power said on the opening morning of this month’s trade period when Butters’ name was raised by the media.

“If Zak had a wish to return to Victoria, I think he’d have every Victorian club looking at that.”

Butters had a close relationship with former Power coach Ken Hinkley, who stood down after the 2025 season. Josh Carr has taken charge, with the Power to enter a new era.

One of the league’s blue-chip midfielders, Butters will be a restricted free agent at the end of next year, giving the Power the opportunity to match any rival deal – should he opt to leave. If he chooses to leave, and the Power match the contract offer, the two teams could broker a trade.

The Power could expect a bumper offer, for Butters is a three-time best and fairest, two-time All-Australian, an AFLCA champion player of the year, and a two-time AFLPA most courageous player. He will be only 26 when his contract expires.

Hawthorn and Essendon are chasing elite midfielders, and have made no secret that they will be aggressive in doing so. The Hawks could again make a play for disgruntled Bomber, Zach Merrett. Carlton will have six first-round draft selections over the next three years to work with, should they enter the fray.

There had been speculation Butters was open to a trade this month, but Power list boss Jason Cripps shut that down on the opening morning of trade week.

Geelong football department chief Andrew Mackie had said that same day the Cats were keeping “really close tabs” on Butters.

Should Butters declare he wants out, the Power could also opt to not match any offer, and receive draft picks as compensation by the AFL.

Industry insiders, wishing to speak anonymously, said a starting point for a Butters trade would likely be two first-round picks inside the top 10.
– Jon Pierik

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