There lies the issue. Derks has a background as a forward.
Weitering goes off injured, and what do our geniuses in the box do?
Leave derk with young down back. Any chance can we put kemp behind the ball?
I thought exactly the same.
I'd like to see Derksen tried up forward.
I'd actually like to see Derksen given a run in the forward line.
He played at both ends for GWS in the VFL and was their leading goalkicker in 2023.
While he may be desperately needed in defence, I wouldn't mind seeing how Derksen goes in the forward line.
Put him CHF and give Derksen a go at FF
Derksen has spent a bit of time forward in the VFL, but they've also had him doing a bit of back-up ruck work.
He probably needs to have a four or five goal game down there before they give him a chance at senior level.
But yep, he could be an option.
The medium/ tall forward brigade also contains a number of forwards who can play back.
And now also (especially with the inclusion of Derksen) a number of medium/tall backs who can play forward.
Lemmey had 1 game where he kicked 7, with is the '1 game' Lods was referring too.
However, from the 16 games he played in 2025, he managed 31 goals (1 goal short of 2 goals a game). Thats an upgrade on anything we have currently, and hardly 'one-game'.
But yes, instead we train a guy up as backmen, then try and turn him into a forward.....who hasn't got as many runs on the board.
Who was training him into a backman then played him as a forward? Wouldnt be our head coach would it.
Of course not
Lemmey had 1 game where he kicked 7, with is the '1 game' Lods was referring too.
However, from the 16 games he played in 2025, he managed 31 goals (1 goal short of 2 goals a game). Thats an upgrade on anything we have currently, and hardly 'one-game'.
But yes, instead we train a guy up as backmen, then try and turn him into a forward.....who hasn't got as many runs on the board.
Who was training him into a backman then played him as a forward? Wouldnt be our head coach would it.
Of course not
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1663578398096635Got some swagger about him this kid.
From what I had seen he wasnt to be persisted with, but in the frame of playing him vs Derkson...
Lemmey had 1 game where he kicked 7, with is the '1 game' Lods was referring too.
However, from the 16 games he played in 2025, he managed 31 goals (1 goal short of 2 goals a game). Thats an upgrade on anything we have currently, and hardly 'one-game'.
But yes, instead we train a guy up as backmen, then try and turn him into a forward.....who hasn't got as many runs on the board.
From what I had seen he wasnt to be persisted with, but in the frame of playing him vs Derkson...
Lemmey had 1 game where he kicked 7, with is the '1 game' Lods was referring too.
However, from the 16 games he played in 2025, he managed 31 goals (1 goal short of 2 goals a game). Thats an upgrade on anything we have currently, and hardly 'one-game'.
But yes, instead we train a guy up as backmen, then try and turn him into a forward.....who hasn't got as many runs on the board.
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/players/2886/wade-derksen
We're not training up a backman to be a forward.
He's as much a forward as he is a defender.
Derksen kicked 35 goals for GWS in the VFL in 2023.
He was training as a defender when he came to us.
He is listed as a key defender on the club website.
He is expected to be a key defender.
Which is fine.....but after all of that, we want to make him a key forward now.
Why wouldn't we just train him as a key forward to begin with?
Standing at 194cm, Derksen - who had previously signed on with the Carlton Reserves program for 2026 - brings strong aerial ability and competitiveness that will further bolster Carlton’s depth heading into the season.
Capable of impacting at both ends of the ground, the 24-year-old was the leading goalkicker for the Giants 2023 VFL side before excelling in defence, with the following year seeing him named in the VFL’s Team of the Year squad as a defender.