When Corey Wagner makes his AFL debut on Friday night, it’ll be at the opposite end of the country to what seemed to be the plan throughout his junior career.
On National Draft night last season, it was actually Brisbane who had first call on Wagner’s final destination, due to the 19-year-old having spent time at the Lions’ academy.
But it was North Melbourne who bid on Wagner with pick 43 – after the Lions elected not to match, it meant the newest Roo was on his way down to Melbourne.
On draft night, North’s recruiting Bryce Lewis revealed Wagner’s versatility.
“He's a versatile ball-winner who's creative, is also a strong runner and shows a bit of toe exiting the contests. He's a mid/forward but can also play some roles potentially down back."
Although some draftees would take time to come to terms with moving away from home, for Wagner it was the complete opposite.
"I really wanted to move, I wanted to come to Melbourne … and start something new,” he said when reflecting on draft night.
“Brisbane had pick 39 and I thought my name could get called … and then North came up and they picked me, and I was ecstatic.”
It was straight down to business for Wagner. Only days after being drafted he was off to Utah – the climate change from Queensland was a little bit of a shock to the system.
“I’ve never been overseas,” he said after landing.
“It’s freezing up here, you can hardly breathe. The first session we did I got two breaths in and I was starting to struggle, but it’s been a good experience.
“I’m loving it, all the boys have got around me really well.”
After returning from Utah and settling into Melbourne life over the Christmas break, Wagner impressed on the training track as part of an impressive 2015 draft crop.
The form of Wagner and the group turned heads heading into the NAB Challenge.
“Our new arrivals have impressed so far this pre-season and we're really looking forward to seeing them in action,” North’s list manager Cam Joyce said in February.
Wagner impressed enough to earn an appearance against St Kilda, and built on it with his performances at VFL level once the season started.
Playing as a small-forward, the common thread in talk about his game was his footy smarts and defensive pressure.
“He’s got a knack of turning up at the right time, which is a characteristic of good small forwards,” development manager Ben Dyer explained after one of Wagner’s impressive performances in May.
“He can also close down, trap the ball and pressing up is important as well.
“Coming out of the Brisbane academy system, they get exposure to modern footy. He just knows what to do in those areas, which perhaps other guys out of Under 18 programs wouldn’t.
“He’s a little ahead of where others would be for that reason.”
With a number of small-forwards battling injury, it created an opportunity for Wagner, which he grabbed with his consistent form.
Now all that’s left for the Queenslander is to run out in the blue and white for the first time. On a Friday night against the reigning premiers, debuts don’t come on a much bigger stage.
Wagner is the first of the 2015 draftees to make their AFL debut
