News Welcome back Lij

[Aphrodite]

Welcome back Lij

Hollands and Derksen earn their chance

Elijah Hollands and Wade Derksen will wear the Navy Blue in 2026.

www.carltonfc.com.au

THE Carlton Football Club can confirm that Elijah Hollands and Wade Derksen will wear the Navy Blue in 2026, with both players signing on as part of the pre-season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP).

The dual signing comes after small forward Jesse Motlop was placed on the inactive list after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in January.

#HappyAph

 

[JuddgementDay]

I'm really happy with this decision, well earnt too.

We need his skills to deliver into the F50.

Maybe, third time lucky hey

 

[Broadside]

Good luck. Repay the faith the club has given you.

 

[T2B_]

Welcome back Lij. You have what it takes.

 

[agro]

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Now that he’s back and it’s all water under the bridge, it’s probably time to clear up a few misconceptions that were being pushed around on here:

1. Graham Wright was very open to moving Lij on (largely from a cultural standpoint). Fact.
2. The playing group, while some were understandably disappointed with off field actions and commitment, were all in favour of giving him a second chance. He was never “persona non grata” in the locker room.
3. Nick Austin was the driving force behind convincing GW in offering him that second opportunity.

 

[agro]

Reading between those lines it sounds like that's the end of senior management changes in the List Management Dept.

 

[KJP7]

We back, never in doubt

 

[agro]

I've mentioned it before but Elijah should be one of the players that we should play through.

 

[RAPPA]

Can’t say I thought 2-3 months ago he’d get a reprieve but credit to him in earning / restoring trust. Good luck and don’t mess it up Lij.

 

[Aphrodite]

Interview | Elijah Hollands speaks on return to Carlton list

Hear from Elijah Hollands after he was confirmed as a 2026 supplemental selection period signing.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[HyphensBack]

I want to see Walsh, Carroll, Smith and Lij running thru the middle and delivering passes to our forward line

Let’s go Lij

 

[Guus_Hiddink]

Please don't throw it away this time.

 

[Lukeblueboy]

All the best lij!
Go become the player that we all know u can

 

[WalshYouLegend]

Congrats Lij! Believing you can have a real incredible impact this year. Well done to secure the spot.

 

[COBALT BLUE]

EH
Is young and ready......bit older bit wiser
Work hard EH........shut out the noise
Say Nothing....you dont have to
Just work .......and become A grade or a very good B grade HF that does on ball

Voss needs EH.......,Voss needs all resources with high value return potential....to sustain his 51% win ratio
Which is fare enough
Maybe he makes 55% this yr if lucky with depth availability
And if he survives 2026 with no suitors he can improve more

 

[Gabagool]

I said it when he was given the chance to train in but it's all up to Lij now. He needs to keep working hard, and boy do we need his ball use.

Really hope it works out this time.

 

[lily of laguna]

Well done Lij.
Well managed by the club.
His brief interview was very informative.
He obviously had no illusions on what was expected and is full of gratitude.
It’s just words, but he has also done a lot of work, not just on the track but also on himself (which is in some ways much harder).
I hope the gratitude and humility is something he carries throughout his career and becomes a strength and pillar for life, and that he inspires his teammates to move forward through adversity.

 

[17in25]

Congrats. Now the real work starts. Go get em Lij.

 

[Garters]

Well played by all parties. Just needs to put a big season in in terms of output.

 

[Juddrockz]

I was never in doubt.
Well done Lij.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

An amazing little story for Lij. Hopefully this is just the start of it and he goes on to absolutely smash it this season.

This is the best Carlton news I can recall in a long while. Not just from a playing stocks perspective but the way they've handled this has been spot on. They gave him the reality call he needed with the delisting but also gave him a path back. It was over to him to earn it and in fairness to Lij he's given it everything.

This is how good clubs operate. Find a way to work these things out.

I know it's been mentioned this has Vossy's fingerprints are all over it... a real feather in his cap.

Don't want to get too far ahead of things - he hasn't even played a 2026 game yet but a great moment for the him and the club.

 

[norway blue]

Well done Lij. Break open some games

 

[ESKIE]

What a difference he is going to make in the side…well done Elijah !

 

[BlueLocke]

Great to hear he’s back. Already had a big tank and now looks much leaner; think he’ll be especially valuable the second half of games as he finds it easier to get a bit of space.

I reckon Boak has worked very closely with Lij over the past 4 months.