No games, no worries: The local club backing Carlton’s newest recruit

Carlton's newest signing Wade Derksen never played for Montmorency, but that won't stop the Northern Football Netball League club from chucking its support behind the utility chasing his AFL dream.

The Magpies signed Derksen for the 2026 season once Derksen's four-year stint at the Giants came to a close.

The 194cm aerialist was first spending time in the Northern Territory, playing football for Nightcliff with some of his best mates, but was preparing for a switch to the local league when the Blues came knocking.

Montmorency coach Nick Rutley never met Derksen but respected the former GWS player's transparency as the goal posts continued to move.

"It's awesome for him," Rutley told Zero Hanger.

"People will say from afar they must be disappointed. Far from it.

"Wade was going through a transition in his life where the Sydney thing didn't quite work out through opportunity and then decided to test the waters locally, and go back up north, in Darwin, and play with his best mates.

"Obviously played some really good footy and I was getting to know him through that process.

"The transparency from Wade was outstanding. We knew everything that was going on, and I couldn't be more supportive of it."

Rutley thought that Derksen would still remain with the Magpies for 2026 when he and Elijah Hollands were vying for a solitary spot on Carlton's list.

But Jesse Motlop's ACL injury opened a vacancy at Ikon Park, which was filled on Monday.

"We thought one spot, and said jeez, Elijah Hollands was going really well, and then to my surprise and delight, they had two spots open and he got the second," Rutley added.

"We couldn't be more happy, and although he hasn't chucked a football jumper on for Montmorency, I think we've built a really good relationship with him."

As is a rule in the state-league competitions, club who lose players to the AFL are granted a $10,000 check as compensation, with local clubs often not seeing a dime. Either way, Rutley said it wouldn't feel right to receive a payout for Derksen's departure.

"It's a state league rule," he said.

"In regards to community clubs, I'm not sure to be honest, but at the same time I would feel inappropriate if we were to get a payout for someone that didn't even play for us."