Fremantle Dockers utility Corey Wagner has declared his willingness to fill any role required by coach Justin Longmuir, with the seasoned player's team-first attitude sharpened by a persistent and personal drought: he has never played in an AFL final.
The Ultimate Team Player: Wagner's Decade-Long Wait
A decade on from his AFL debut in round 13 of 2016, Wagner's career is defined by adaptability. Now 28, the player has lined up on the half-back flank, on the wing, in attack, and as a run-with midfielder through his time at Fremantle. His primary focus remains simple: securing his spot in the team, regardless of position.
"The best ability is availability," Wagner stated, reflecting on his approach for the upcoming season. "If I can keep fit, keep playing my role and doing what the team needs, hopefully there's a spot anywhere to fill." He confirmed his pre-season training has involved moving all over the ground, anticipating another year as the team's flexible option.
Learning from the League's Best
One of Wagner's most noted roles has been tagging the opposition's premier midfielders, a task he embraces rather than endures. Last season, he matched up against elite players like Collingwood's Nick Daicos, Port Adelaide's Zak Butters, and Essendon's Zach Merrett.
He views these challenging assignments as a unique learning opportunity. "You get to play on the best in the league and learn little bits about them," Wagner explained. He noted observing Daicos's intelligent use of speed and Butters's sharp change of direction, insights he then tries to incorporate into his own midfield game.
The Mindset of a Utility
For some, the constant positional shifts could be mentally taxing, but Wagner finds it suits his personality. "I'm a bit of an over-thinker, so in the games it really helps me by moving a lot," he admitted. His success hinges on understanding each role intimately, adapting quickly, and maintaining clear communication with teammates on the field.
This reliability has built significant trust with coach Longmuir. "That relationship and trust J-Lo has in me now, he can just put me anywhere and I'll do a job for him," Wagner said. "I don't want to lose that." His goal for the year is straightforward: to play in every game.
The Driving Force: A Missing Finals Chapter
The stark reality motivating Wagner is his absence from September action. After playing 17 games in the 2025 season, his year ended cruelly when he tore his pectoral muscle against the Western Bulldogs in Fremantle's final home-and-away match. This injury ruled him out of the Dockers' narrow finals loss to the Gold Coast Suns.
This missed opportunity followed an earlier near-miss; in 2016, he was an emergency for North Melbourne's final. Wagner is now one of the longest-serving active players without a finals appearance, with only Nick Holman having debuted earlier without a final to his name.
"It was a hard pill to swallow," Wagner said of the recent injury. "It's all you want to play, finals footy and to hold the cup up and being so close you can nearly grab it — to not be able to play, it's a big driving factor."
With his pectoral injury now fully healed, Wagner's ambition is clear. He aims to use that frustration to propel both himself and the Fremantle team towards a finals berth at the end of the 2026 AFL season, hoping to finally write the missing chapter in his enduring career.
