Tom Emmett (footballer)

Tom Emmett
Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-11-30) 30 November 2001 (age 22)
Place of birth	Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s)	Sturt
Draft	No. 41, 2022 national draft
Debut	Round 23, 2023, Fremantle  vs. Port Adelaide, at Optus Stadium
Height	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current club	Fremantle
Number	18
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2023–2024	Fremantle	15 (11)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2024 season.
Career highlights
WAFL premiership player: 2024
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Tom Emmett (born 30 November 2001) is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He mainly played as a small forward. He was delisted in October 2024, despite having a break-out season for the Dockers. He played an integral part of Peel Thunder Football Club 2024 West Australian Football League (WAFL) Premiership, where his team defeated the East Perth Royals.

Early life

Emmett was born in Adelaide, South Australia. Just before Emmett's 17th birthday in November 2018 he was diagnosed with a world-first subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. ^[1] Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that causes white blood cells to form abnormally and cause tumours around the body of the unwell. ^[2]

Before being drafted by Fremantle, Emmett played for Sturt in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). ^[3]

AFL career

Fremantle: (2023–2024)

2023 season

Emmett was taken with pick no.41 in the 2022 AFL draft by the Fremantle Football Club. ^[4] Emmett spent the majority of his first season playing for Fremantle’s reserve side, Peel Thunder, in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). In 2023 Emmett played 17 games for Peel, including the Grand Final loss to East Fremantle, and kicking 15 goals in a solid season. ^[5] Ahead of Fremantle’s Round 23 clash against Port Adelaide Emmett was called up for his AFL debut. This was due to teammate Michael Walters’ injury which caused him to not be able to play. ^[6] On debut Emmett performed well kicking 2 goals and having 13 disposals in a 16-point defeat. ^[7] After this solid performance Emmett kept his spot in the team for Fremantle’s final game of the year against Hawthorn. Emmett played even better in this game having 17 disposals and kicking 2 goals in a comfortable 37 point win which marked his first career win at the AFL level. ^[8]

2024 season

After the shock departure of former teammate, Lachie Schultz, to Collingwood during the 2023 trade period Emmett became the replacement starting small forward for Fremantle. ^[9] Emmett completed a fully fit pre-season and therefore was selected for the unofficial match simulation game against West Coast at Mineral Resources Park. Emmett kicked a goal in Fremantle's 52 point win. ^[10] Emmett unfortunately was unable to play in Fremantle's only official pre-season game against Port Adelaide due to illness. ^[11] Fremantle ended up losing the game by 39 points on the road. ^[12] Emmett returned to the starting 22 for a Round 1 clash with 2023 grand finalists, Brisbane Lions. Emmett didn't play too well only collecting the 5 touches however Fremantle ended up with a 23 point win. ^[13] Emmett stayed in the side for the team's first away match of the 2024 season where they played North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. Emmett collected 9 disposals in a massive comeback win in Melbourne. ^[14] Emmett followed up in Round 3 where they played Adelaide at home. Emmett played well but was tactically substituted out of the game for teammate, Jaeger O'Meara. Fremantle ended up winning this low scoring game by 35 points. ^[15] Tom was one of Fremantle's better players against Carlton at Adelaide Oval, which was played in Adelaide due to the AFL's annual Gather Round. He finished the game having kicked two goals. ^[16] Emmett played again the following in their 3 point loss to Port Adelaide. Emmett kicked a goal but only had 6 disposals for the match. ^[17] Emmett played in his first Western Derby in round 6 of the season. ^[18] Emmett kicked a goal and had 11 disposals but Fremantle had an upset loss to their home town rivals, West Coast, by 37 points. ^[19] In their round 7 annual Len Hall Tribute match they played the Western Bulldogs and came out victors by 24 points. Emmett played well have 7 disposals and 4 tackles. ^[20]

Emmett was delisted by Fremantle at the end of the 2024 season. ^[21]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 24, 2024. ^[22]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2023	Fremantle	18	2	4	0	16	14	30	7	6	2.0	0.0	8.0	7.0	15.0	3.5	3.0
2024	Fremantle	18	13	7	4	57	43	100	31	29	0.5	0.3	4.4	3.3	7.7	2.4	2.2
Career			15	11	4	73	57	130	38	35	0.7	0.3	4.9	3.8	8.7	2.5	2.3

References

1. "AFL draft 2022: New Fremantle draftee Tom Emmett overcomes cancer, injuries in road to the draft". thewest.com.au. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
2. "Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma". mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
3. "Tom Emmett". sanfl.com.au. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
4. "Pick no.41 - Tom Emmett". fremantlefc.com.au. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
5. "Tom Emmett". wafl.com.au. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
6. "Emmett in for retro round debut". fremantlefc.com.au. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
7. "AFL 2023 Round 23 - Fremantle v Port Adelaide". portadelaidefc.com.au. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
8. "AFL round 24: Fremantle ends season with a victory over Hawthorn as Tom Emmett shines". codesports.com.au. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
9. "Schultz pulls on the stripes". collingwoodfc.com.au. 16 October 2023.
10. "Huge scare for No.1 pick as multiple Eagles cop injury setbacks; Fallen star issues big warning: 3-2-1". foxsports.com.au. 24 February 2024.
11. "Fremantle Dockers to be without Jye Amiss, Tom Emmett for final pre-season hit-out against Port Adelaide". thewest.com.au. 29 February 2024.
12. "Skipper 'in a league of his own' amid star's scare; 'aggressive' Port expose flat Freo: 3-2-1". foxsports.com.au. 2 March 2024.
13. "Freo overcomes horror injury toll to hand stunned Lions 0-2 start". afl.com.au. 17 March 2024.
14. "'Ominous' beast poses Freo dilemma in epic comeback as 'exciting' Roos shine: 3-2-1". foxsports.com.au. 23 March 2024.
15. "Dockers extend unbeaten run with victory over winless Crows". afl.com.au. 31 March 2024.
16. Schmook, Nathan (8 April 2024). "Undisciplined Dockers hand Blues controversial win". afl.com.au.
17. "Port pours more last-minute pain on Dockers". afl.com.au. 13 April 2024.
18. "TEAM: Swag back for RAC Derby". fremantlfc.com.au. 18 April 2024.
19. "Docker shocker: Harley hypes up Eagles in Derby boilover". afl.com.au. 20 April 2024.
20. "High on Fyfe: Superstar winds back clock as Freo sinks Dogs". afl.com.au. 27 April 2024.
21. "Dockers forward delisted, young ruck victim of list squeeze". afl.com.au. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
22. "Tom Emmett". AFL Tables. Retrieved 16 October 2023.

External links

• Tom Emmett's profile on the official website of the Fremantle Football Club
• Tom Emmett's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Tom Emmett at AustralianFootball.com
• Tom Emmett's WAFL playing statistics