One of the region's most promising AFL draft prospects admits now isn't the worst time to be injured.
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With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing all football to a halt, star Murray Bushranger Elijah Hollands hasn't lost any ground on talented players across the country.
Hollands tore his ACL training with home club Wodonga in February and has recently undergone a knee reconstruction, which would have ruled him out for the entire season as it stood.
The 17-year-old is tracking well and has been able to commence his rehab at home in recent weeks.
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Despite not taking the field in his draft year, Hollands was set to take on a leadership role with the Bushies and help out with game day operations.
"As bad as it sounds, it's probably not a bad year to do it," Hollands said.
"I'm the same with everyone else and I wish footy was being played because there was still a lot I was going to be able to do on game day and during the week for the Bushies.
"Whether that be on the bench doing some rotations and moving some magnets on the board, which was something I was looking forward to doing, I guess to expand my knowledge of the game a bit."
As bad as it sounds, it's probably not a bad year to do it.
- Elijah Hollands on his injury
Hollands is none the wiser as to how the impacts on the season will affect this year's national draft.
"A few of the boys are getting a bit panicky, which is understandable, because no-one really knows what's going to happen come November if there's a draft or if it's going to be pushed back," he added.
"It's out of our control and I guess once you get in the mindset that you can't control it, it takes the stress away from it a little bit.
"You can just do what you can do and at the moment that's trying to get fit indoors and trying to do our stuff away from the club."
Hollands had been touted as a number one pick.