The 201cm, 100kg, forward-ruckman hails from the pretty WA seaside town of Dunsborough, which is located 254 kilometres south of Perth and rated one of the state’s most popular holiday destinations.
Derickx played junior football for Dunsborough, before joining his older brother Nick at the Augusta-Margaret River Hawks club.
He was then invited to try out at WAFL club Claremont, where he spent a year in the reserves, before a strong pre-season, combined with a decent late growth spurt, catapulted him into senior ranks.
In 2010, Derickx played every game in Claremont’s senior side, including the epic grand final loss to Swan Districts. He was a valuable contributor, both in the ruck and up forward.
His form that year caught the eye of the Tiger talent scouts and he was subsequently taken by Richmond, at pick 63 overall, in the 2010 AFL National Draft.
Injuries cruelled Derickx’s first season at Tigerland in 2011. He initially battled a heel complaint and then suffered a broken ankle, which ruled him out for the second half of the year.
Derickx has made good progress at VFL level with Coburg this season, alternating between key back and forward posts, impressing with his strong marking and attack on the football.
This has now led to him, at age 24, fulfilling his long-held dream of playing football at the game’s highest level, having been selected to debut against Melbourne at the MCG in Saturday’s Round 15 clash.
“I’m stoked . . . can’t wait,” an excited Derickx told ‘Roar Vision’.
“I was having a massage and Tim Livingstone (the Club’s Head of Development) called me into match committee . . .
“The whole club was in there, so I thought something was up.
“They told me (he had been selected) . . . I heard a few rumors through the week, so I sort of expected it.”
The advice to the 24-year-old from the coaching panel was straightforward . . .
“They just said ‘have a crack, enjoy yourself, and use your competitive strength’,” he said.
With No. 1 ruckman Ivan Maric having such an impact in his first season at Richmond this year, it forced Derickx to further develop his versatility.
“Coaches threw me around a bit . . . I was playing forward-ruck and then back the last month,” he said.
“Ivan was playing so well, I had to add some more strings to my bow.
“It was good to go down back and play some good footy.
“You know your role and then you can also take something out of it when you go forward, knowing what the defenders hate.
“Also, playing a bit in the ruck, I’m ready to slip in there when the opportunity comes up.
“I’ll play forward and then probably about 40% in the ruck.”
