Blues backman banned over failed roadside test during off-season
Blues player Wade Derksen has been suspended for the entire AFL pre-season and the first three games of the 2027 season after being charged with drink driving in the off season.
Carlton announced the sanction on Friday, in relation to the 25-year-old failing a roadside test in late September in the Northern Territory, with the matter scheduled to be heard in court in November.
Wade Derksen will miss the 2027 pre-season and the first three games. Getty Images
“While we acknowledge the upcoming legal process will carry its own penalty, Wade’s conduct falls well below the standards we expect,” Carlton’s manager of football Chris Davies said in a statement.
“Wade is fully aware how disappointed we are in what occurred.
“We will continue to support him throughout this period as he takes full responsibility for his actions.”
The defender expressed his remorse, saying he “let a lot of people down” with his actions, agreeing to serve both his club-imposed ban and also relevant counselling.
“I want to express how sorry I am for what I did,” Derksen said.
“The choice I made to get behind the wheel that day was unacceptable and is a moment I deeply regret. I have let a lot of people down and for that I apologise.”
Derksen joined the Blues ahead of the 2026 season and played 15 games this season.
The news of Carlton’s sanction for Derksen comes just hours after the club also acknowledged the AFL’s sanction handed to Lachie Cowan on Friday morning.
The league cited that Cowan was “found guilty of conduct unbecoming and suspended for two matches following an investigation into his use of an illicit substance”.
Cowan was also been issued a $5000 suspended fine while teammate Will Hayward, who was also at the party in St Kilda, was not referenced by the AFL statement and is expected to dodge a sanction for his separate incident.
These two post season incidents also come after the club was spotlighted during the 2026 season for their conduct surrounding Elijah Hollands’ on-field mental episode in an early-season match against Collingwood. The Blues were fined $75,000 for their handling of the situation, the AFL declaring the Blues had “brought the game into disrepute”.
