Behind Tom Emmett’s extraordinary journey to his AFL debut with the Fremantle Dockers

And that’s precisely why Emmett is no regular footballer.

Four years ago, the South Australian was in the fight of his life. The then-teenager was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer after months of feeling unwell.

Then there was a serious Achilles injury, with doctors telling the 18-year-old he may never run freely, let alone play football, again.

There was also a broken collarbone and hand.

Emmett’s goal of playing AFL seemed for a long time to be improbable, even impossible.

Still, he kept believing.

“I don’t know … I’d hoped so but it was just a dream,” Emmett said when asked if he thought he would ever make his AFL debut. “It’s something you dream about for so long but to actually do it is surreal. It’s still sinking in.”

They say AFL players don’t deserve anything, whether it be success or acclaim, from the second they step onto a list. Emmett is a rare exception.

Emmett earned his opportunity with Fremantle.

And he deserved to kick two goals on debut.

On Sunday, Emmett ran out as one of the best 22 players on the Dockers’ list.

Two years ago, he could barely cut it at state league level.

After beating cancer, Emmett resumed his football career in year 12 with Pembroke’s first XVIII. He finished the season strongly and decided to email Sturt football manager Chris Trapp asking if he could attend pre-season training, the same club that had turned him away as a 16-year-old due to injury concerns.

Double Blues coach Martin Mattner was willing to see what Emmett could offer.

“He came down to our senior pre-season really as the last player on our list,” Mattner said. “He had some potential and we saw some good attributes in his junior footy but he just hadn’t played much. We thought we’d give him an opportunity to see how he’d go.

“It was only going to be a pre-season so we could assess where he was at with his footy. But he trained strongly and worked really hard.”

Emmett was on a mission to make up for lost time and Sturt took notice. However, that summer he sliced his Achilles while attempting to jump a fence, putting his SANFL comeback on hold for eight months.

The following season, Emmett forced his way into Sturt’s reserves side only to miss 14 weeks with a broken collarbone. A broken hand cost Emmett a round one berth last year.

Then, in round six, he finally made his SANFL debut.

“Initially it was his determination and resilience,” Mattner said when asked why Sturt continued to persist with Emmett. “Once he started playing footy and training, it was his competitiveness, tackling and pressure.

“We chatted a lot about the opportunity he had to play league football. And he worked hard, harder than most if not all of our guys, because he knew how much he missed his footy when he was injured and ill and wasn’t able to play. His resilience was key to that.”

Naturally, after coming so far, Emmett wasn’t satisfied playing reserves footy. But there were a few deficiencies Sturt needed to see addressed before Mattner could consider Emmett for senior selection.

“We had a lot of conversations around building his game so when he did get into the side, he wouldn’t fall out,” Mattner said. “His pressure and intent were there as a forward. It was his marking and hitting the scoreboard as a high half-forward that needed some work.

“He was someone who always wanted to get better. He’d come and see me for review and feedback.

“He thought he probably should’ve been selected a couple of weeks earlier as all players do. But once he got in the team, not only did he stay in the team but he started having a huge impact on games.”

Emmett played 14 consecutive games and kicked 17 goals for Sturt.

Mattner wasn’t surprised when AFL clubs, including Fremantle, started asking the question.

“It only really took him half a season to get noticed. He came from nowhere,” he said. “I thought it was obvious (that he was going to play AFL) but there was probably an element of timing and luck to it.

“He had all the attributes. He’s a good size. He’s athletic. He chases and applies pressure.

Then he added in the marking and goal kicking and suddenly he was the complete player. He can impact games in so many different ways.

“Suddenly he’s gone from the last player selected on our list to playing AFL the following season.”

Drafted by Fremantle with pick 41 last year, Emmett’s patience faced one last test.

The 21 year-old has gradually gained confidence in the WAFL this season, kicking 13 goals in 13 games. Dockers coach Justin Longmuir could no longer ignore his state league form.

“A lot of it has been about my polish, my execution under pressure and my composure,” Emmett said. “I’ve been trying to get as much touch as I possibly can and doing those extras twice a week.

“It’s just some of the mental things I was making errors on. Because it’s a step up in pressure, I needed to be able to execute under that heat to take the next step up.

“I got told (I’d be debuting) on Thursday morning by JL in our team meeting. It was so surreal. It’s something you always dream of but to hear your coach say it, it’s like, ‘Wow’.”

‘Wow’ is likely what the 38,360 patrons at Optus Stadium, including several of Emmett’s family and friends, were thinking when he lined up for his first career set shot against Port Adelaide after winning a free kick inside 50.

Somewhere in that 30-second window, players have to commence their approach.

Emmett took a moment to reflect on how far he had come.

“When I was walking back (for the set shot) I was actually thinking about what an opportunity I‘ve got here and to actually kick it was awesome,” he said. “The Freo fans are so loud. The boys always talk about how loud they are but to actually be out there … we’ve got the best fans in the competition.

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“Getting two goals on the scoreboard isn’t what the coaches really value. It’s playing your role and so many other little things like that. It was nice to get them but I was just trying to play my role.”

That role?

A pressure forward, a Docker and an inspiration.