Tyler Wagner could hardly watch as the outcome of this year’s AFL Fantasy competition came down to the wire.
In the 13 years the Fremantle Dockers diehard had been playing the online game, he never envisioned he would make it here.
With less than a minute to go, Wagner’s fantasy team, named Wagmantle, was in the lead by just three fantasy points.
If the opposing team, The Powerhouse, recorded a single stat, the 2026 title was theirs.
As the ball approached Powerhouse’s Jarman Impey, the seconds were ticking down, and Wagner could not bear to watch.
Tyler Wagner’s Wagmantle managed to beat a number of other fantasy players. (Supplied: Tyler Wagner)
But when he did finally look back up, Impey had dropped the mark.
“It was still nerve-racking because the siren had gone, but sometimes the AFL do late stat corrections,” Wagner said.
“My mates went absolutely mental and it was a very, very cool moment.
“But I was still sitting there pacing the hallway just hoping there was no stat correction.”
Thirteen years in the making
AFL Fantasy allows users to coach a virtual team of players, who score points based on their real-life performances, using an allocated budget.
Each year approximately 140,000 Australians compete to crown one winner.
This year, the prize on offer was $20,000, two tickets to the AFL Grand Final and a car.
Tyler Wagner is footy obsessed and spends most of his free time either watching or playing. (ABC Riverland: Jackson Byrne)
Wagner, a 28-year-old PE teacher from South Australia’s Riverland, described his win as “overwhelming”.
The A-grade footballer had been playing AFL Fantasy since 2014 when he was a teenager.
“I’ve had a lot of messages from friends and family, which has been really awesome,” he said.
“There’s a group of year four, fives and sixes that I teach that follow it pretty closely.
“They were ripping me some weeks where I dropped a few in ranks and then they’d give me a kudos when it went up, but those last couple of weeks, they were pretty excited.”
Long-suffering Fremantle fans dare to dream
What started as a bit of fun has now given Wagner the opportunity to live out his childhood dream alongside his father.
Fremantle has never won a premiership in its 32-year history and has only once made it to the big dance in 2013.
“My old man has been a Docker supporter since 1995,” he said.
Tyler Wagner (right) never had any choice in which team he supported, following in the footsteps of his dad (centre). (Supplied: Tyler Wagner)
“I reckon he might have been the bloody first Fremantle fan in SA.
“It’s a no-brainer — if Freo manage to make it, I’m definitely taking dad.“
Wagner is hoping the Dockers, who finished 2026 as minor premiers, can go one better than 2013 and make history.
“I’m definitely a self-confessed Dockers nuffy,” he said.
Luke Jackson is Tyler Wagner’s favourite player and was a key piece for his fantasy team. (AAP: Richard Wainwright)
“To see that would be absolutely everything, especially alongside my dad.“
Luck or strategy?
AFL Fantasy expert Ryan “Heff” Gerlach has been playing fantasy football since 2004, back when it was called Dream Team.
He has since made a career out of the hobby, running a successful podcast known as The Keeper League.
“Winning the competition against 140,000 people is lucky in itself,”
Gerlach said.
“To do it in a year where there’s a good chance of your team playing in the Grand Final, I don’t think it could have worked out any better for Tyler.”
Ryan “Heff” Gerlach is well known within the growing fantasy football community. (Supplied: Ryan Gerlach)
The statistical side of fantasy sports, mixed with a sense of gaming is what Gerlach said made it such an appealing pastime.
He said while anyone in a position to beat out more than 140,000 people had to be knowledgeable, luck was bound to play some role.
“If I was going to give it a number, I’d say [it’s] probably 60 per cent strategy, 40 per cent luck,”
Gerlach said.
“But you talk to different people and that answer will differ.”
Despite the temptation to attribute his once-in-a-lifetime season to skill, Wagner remained humble in his assessment.
“I didn’t think that I would even be in the top ten this year, let alone winning the thing,” he said.
“In other years I’ve probably felt like I’ve put the same amount of effort in, but it just hasn’t fallen my way.
“There’s definitely a lot of luck involved, but you still need to know your stuff.”
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