Corey Wagner

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Corey Wagner

| image = Corey Wagner 2019.6.jpg

| caption = Wagner playing for Melbourne in July 2019

| fullname = Corey Wagner

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|03|23|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| originalteam = {{NEAFL Asp}} (NEAFL)/Brisbane Lions Academy

| draftpick = No. 41, 2015 national draft and No. 57, 2022 national draft

| debutdate = Round 13, 2016

| debutteam = {{AFL NM}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Haw}}

| debutstadium = Etihad Stadium

| height = 180 cm

| weight = 74 kg

| position = Midfielder, Half Back

| currentclub = {{AFL Fre}}

| guernsey = 34

| years1 = 2016–2017

| club1 = {{AFL NM}}

| games_goals1 = {{0}}8 (0)

| years2 = 2019–2020

| club2 = {{AFL Mel}}

| games_goals2 = 11 (6)

| years3 = 2023–

| club3 = {{AFL Fre}}

| games_goals3 = 34 (3)

| games_goalstotal = 54 (9)

| statsend = round 18, 2025

| careerhighlights =

}}

Corey Wagner (born 23 March 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club, having previously played for North Melbourne and Melbourne in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the younger brother of former Melbourne defender, Josh Wagner.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/melbourne-demons/josh-wagner-reflects-on-journey-from-neafl-club-aspley-to-melbourne-demons/news-story/84ffaf61f2b75ad7f786503520129d88|title=Josh Wagner reflects on journey from NEAFL club Aspley to Melbourne Demons|last=Baldwin|first=Adam|date=1 January 2016|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|publisher=News Corp Australia|accessdate=17 July 2016}}

Early life

Wagner was born into a family with a strong history in Australian rules football in Queensland, with his father, Scott Wagner, a 200-gamer for the Sandgate Football Club and he was the inaugural captain of the {{AFL BB}} development side, and his grandfathers, Gary Wagner and Col "Skinny" Robinson, played in premiership sides for Sandgate, along with Gary being a member of AFL Queensland's Hall of Fame.{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/love-of-the-game-wagner-family-grassroots-greats-in-aussie-rules/news-story/32ea24ca3b1070c7a07e433b76dfa61e|title=Love of the Game: Wagner family grassroots greats in Aussie rules|last=Pramberg|first=Bernie|date=21 September 2015|work=The Courier-Mail|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=25 May 2025}}

AFL Career

=North Melbourne: (2016–2017)=

He was drafted by the North Melbourne Football Club with their fourth selection and forty-first overall in the 2015 national draft.{{cite news|url=http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2015-11-24/pick-43|title=Pick 43: Corey Wagner|date=24 November 2015|work=NMFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=17 July 2016}} He made his debut in the nine point loss against Hawthorn in round 13, 2016 at Etihad Stadium.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-16/roo-debut-for-exlions-academy-member-corey-wagner|title=Roo debut for ex-Lions academy member|last=Ryan|first=Peter|date=16 June 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=17 July 2016}}

Wagner was delisted at the conclusion of the 2017 AFL season.{{cite news|url=http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2017-10-10/mullett-wagner-depart|title=Aaron Mullett, Corey Wagner depart|date=10 October 2017|work=nmfc.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=10 October 2017}}

=Melbourne: (2019–2020)=

Ahead of the 2019 season, Wagner joined Melbourne during the newly implemented pre-season supplemental selection period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/from-coffees-to-kicks-wagner-to-join-dees-under-new-rules-20181120-p50h4g.html|title=From coffees to kicks: Wagner to join Dees under new rules|date=20 November 2018}} He spent 2018 playing for Casey Demons in the VFL.

Wagner was delisted by Melbourne at the end of the 2020 AFL season.

=Fremantle: (2023–)=

==2023 season==

Wagner was drafted with the 57th pick in the 2022 AFL draft by Fremantle after performing well for {{VFL PM}} in the Victorian Football League. Wagner played his first game for {{AFL Fre}} in Round 5 of the 2023 AFL season, against the Gold Coast Suns at Norwood Oval. He collected 12 disposals on debut for the Dockers in a 10 point victory. Despite collecting 18 disposals the following week against the {{AFL WB}}, Wagner couldn't regain his spot in the Fremantle senior side. He instead played for their WAFL affiliate, Peel Thunder.{{cite news|title=Wagner hitting the right notes after surprise Docker debut|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/993028/wagner-hitting-the-right-notes-after-surprise-docker-debut|access-date= |work=afl.com|date= 6 August 2023|first=Nathan|last=Schmook}} He returned to the Dockers line-up in round eighteen against {{AFL Col}}, and played out the remainder of the season.

==2024 season==

Wagner suffered a calf injury during a pre-season WAFL practice match in early March 2024. He played his first game of the 2024 AFL season in round 11 against {{AFL Col}}, replacing Josh Draper in the third quarter. Wagner played well collecting eight disposals and helping in a tight contest.{{cite news|title=All tied up! Remarkable finish as Dockers, Pies end all square|url=https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/5986#match-report|work=Australian Football League|date=24 May 2024|first=Nathan|last=Schmook}} He signed a two-year contract extension in late July to remain at Fremantle until at least the end of 2026.{{cite news|title=Docker signs on, Crow gets an offer, Bulldog's new deal|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1184730/inside-trading-saints-deal-close-flag-tiger-to-go-on-dons-face-contract-crunch|work=afl.com.au|date=1 August 2024|first=Josh|last=Gabelich}}

==2025 season==

Wagner started the season strong with 24 disposals in Round 1 and 20 disposals in Round 2. However, Wagner was a late out for {{AFL Fre}}'s Round 3 clash with cross town rivals {{AFL WC}} after he pulled up with a sore calf from Round 2.{{Cite web |url=https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/6993#match-report |title=Dockers brush aside Eagles in Derby for first win of season |date=30 March 2025 |website=afl.com.au}} Wagner returned in Round 4 however, was subbed out of the game during the 3rd quarter with calf awareness.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1752175/rnd-5-injury-update-jackson-odriscoll-wagner |title=RND 5 Injury Update: Jackson, O’Driscoll, Wagner |date=8 April 2025 |website=fremantlefc.com.au}} Wagner returned to the AFL in Round 7 after missing the last two weeks with that calf injury. Wagner played well in round 11 in a big win for the Dockers against {{AFL GC}} where he had 18 disposals and kicked his first goal for the club.{{Cite web |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1332530/gold-coast-suns-v-fremantle-dockers-match-report-afl-round-12-2025 |title=Resurgent Dockers hold off Suns for third straight win |date=31 May 2025 |website=afl.com.au}}

Statistics

: Statistics are correct to the end of round 18, 2025{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Corey_Wagner.html|title=Corey Wagner|publisher=AFL Tables|accessdate=15 September 2019}}

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016

|{{AFL NM}}

| 41 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 14 || 14 || 28 || 6 || 16 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 3.5 || 3.5 || 7.0 || 1.5 || 4.0

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017

|{{AFL NM}}

| 41 || 4 || 0 || 2 || 18 || 13 || 31 || 6 || 6 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 4.5 || 3.3 || 7.8 || 1.5 || 1.5

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019

|{{AFL Mel}}

| 40 || 11 || 6 || 5 || 72 || 50 || 122 || 27 || 45 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 6.5 || 4.5 || 11.1 || 2.5 || 4.1

| 2020 || {{AFL Mel}} || 40