Frustrating Blues bans an important wake-up slap for rejuvenated club
Carlton finished the 2026 season in a far more optimistic place than anybody could have anticipated nine weeks into the campaign.
They were 1-8, coach Michael Voss had walked out on the club after a turbulent 18 months of struggles, and frustrations were palpable as a short-fire run at being a top eight side looked well and truly over.
Carlton players Lachie Cowan and Wade Derksen. Getty
Enter Josh Fraser, who turned things around almost immediately. The Blues ended up making the (real) first round of finals and went on a fairy-tale run across the back-end of the season.
The season came to an end, the Blues landed Lachie Whitfield and Joel Amartey in the trade period and also have the club’s most highly touted father-son candidate ever about to walk through the door in Cody Walker.
Vibes were high and excitement was already building for the 2027 season.
And then in the span of a few hours on Friday, the AFL handed down suspensions for defenders Lachie Cowan and Wade Derksen for the start of the season.
Cowan for the use of an illicit substance following a night of partying and Derksen separately for being charged with drink-driving in the Northern Territory.
Now, the AFL has set a dangerous precedent by suspending Cowan when the only reason they knew about the indiscretion was because he sought medical attention. But putting that to one side, Cowan clearly made a mistake and is being held accountable.
The 21-year-old had a breakout second-half of the season for the Blues and would have been on track for a significant contract extension in 2027, given the Tasmanian-born defender will be courted heavily by the Devils.
But now the waters are murky, with Carlton reportedly reading Cowan the riot act and warning him that his behaviour must change if he wants to be a part of the club long-term.
Derksen’s matter meanwhile will be heard in court in November and his alleged error is clearly inexcusable. He admitted fault and apologised in a club-released statement.
“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.”
The 25-year-old had to rebuild his AFL career from scratch after being delisted by GWS at the end of 2025. He earned a spot on Carlton’s list and even broke into the side late in the season, showing strong form.
Derksen was rewarded with a contract for 2027 and 2028 and immediately repaid the club by copping an off-field suspension, allegedly for a truly dangerous act.
Both will now need to spend the summer regaining the trust of the group from scratch. They have also left the Blues shorthanded in defence for the first three games of the season.
New Carlton coach Josh Fraser. AFL Photos via Getty Images
And now the question turns to Carlton’s relatively new leadership as to how they handle this mess and whether they can stamp out these off-field habits as they look to become a truly serious contender.
New coach Fraser, CEO Graham Wright and head of football Chris Davies are all fresh faces at IKON Park. They don’t carry any ‘old Carlton’ baggage, and they have all arrived from highly successful programs at other clubs.
Reading Cowan the riot act was a sign that this group is not going to tolerate these kinds of indiscretions, and maybe it’s the wake-up call the entire group needed heading into the off-season.
All eyes will be on the club from a behavioural standpoint in 2027, and the last thing they want is to develop a reputation for off-field failings.
Carlton has spent more years as a laughingstock than a serious contender in the 21st century, and it’s probably not particularly close.
Fraser, Wright and Davies have a lot of work ahead of them.
