Fremantle have confirmed recruit Corey Wagner will make his Dockers debut against the Gold Coast Suns on Friday.
Wagner formerly played for both Melbourne and North Melbourne, making his AFL debut with the latter in 2016.
He would be delisted by the Roos after two seasons with the club before being picked up by the Demons through the 2019 Supplemental Selection Period.
There Wagner would play 11 games in just one season with Melbourne, again facing the chop.
Wagner has since built a strong case to return to the top level, last year averaging 22.3 disposals, 4.3 tackles, 2.3 clearances and 2.4 inside 50s per game in the VFL with Port Melbourne.
His strong 2022 campaign placed him on the Dockers' radar, with Fremantle drafting Wagner to his third club as the 57th pick in last year's count.
Having not done it the easy way, Wagner said he was excited to be making his debut at Gather Round, where the Dockers will clash with the Suns at Norwood Oval.
“Norwood Oval is a small ground, it's local footy and I'm used to local footy. It will be a good one to settle the nerves in and get straight into it,” Wagner said in a clubs release.
“The last few years I thought the dream was over. I always had that fire in the belly to get back here but I focused on a career outside of footy.
“With that, it freed me up and I started playing good footy. Down back I'm allowed a lot of run and to play a free game, see the game up forward and set some goals up.
“I'm a bit of a journeyman who hasn't played many games. I'm really excited, I feel really comfortable with the group and the coaches and I'm ready to pull on the jersey.”
Fremantle will be forced into at least two changes, with forward Matt Taberner and defender Nathan Wilson both set to miss the Round 6 action.
The Dockers and Suns will go head-to-head at Norwood Oval at 4:40pm local time on Friday afternoon.
