Josh Wagner (footballer)

Josh Wagner
Wagner warming up prior to a pre-season match in February 2017
Personal information
Full name	Josh Wagner
Date of birth	(1994-06-24) 24 June 1994 (age 22)
Original team(s)	Aspley (NEAFL)
Draft	No. 6, 2016 rookie draft
Debut	Round 3, 2016, Melbourne vs. North Melbourne, at Blundstone Arena
Height / weight	189 cm / 85 kg
Position(s)	Defender
Club information
Current club	Melbourne
Number	42
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2016–	Melbourne	14 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2016.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Josh Wagner (born 24 June 1994) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A defender, 1.89 metres (6.2 ft) tall and weighing 85 kilograms (187 lb), Wagner plays primarily on the half-back flank with the ability to push into the midfield. Born into a family with a strong heritage in Queensland Australian rules football, he is also the older brother of North Melbourne midfielder, Corey Wagner. He played top-level football early when he played in the seniors for the Aspley Football Club in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) at sixteen years of age, in addition to playing in the 2012 AFL Under 18 Championships for Queensland. He missed out on selection in the 2012 AFL draft, spending the next three seasons at Aspley. His accolades in the NEAFL include a premiership, league representation and selection in the NEAFL team of the year. He was drafted by the Melbourne Football Club in the 2016 rookie draft and he made his AFL debut during the 2016 season.

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 Brisbane Bears 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. Josh played soccer and rugby union at a young age and he was introduced to Australian rules football by one of his friends and he played under nines with Sandgate before moving to the Aspley Football Club, playing the remainder of his junior career there; he debuted in the senior team in 2011 at 16 years of age.