Jeremy Sharp
Jeremy Sharp (born 13 August 2001) is an Australian rules footballer who plays as a midfielder and winger for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).[1] Originally from Attadale, Western Australia, Sharp attended Aquinas College and represented Western Australia at the under-18 level, earning dual All-Australian selection in 2018 and 2019 after averaging over 15 disposals in senior WAFL matches for East Fremantle.[2][3] Drafted by the Gold Coast Suns with the 27th pick in the 2019 AFL National Draft, Sharp made his senior debut in 2020, playing two games that season.[1] He appeared in 23 games across 2020–2023 for the Suns, including nine in 2021 where he averaged 20 disposals and earned a nomination for the AFL Rising Star award in Round 18.[3] Delisted at the end of 2023, Sharp joined Fremantle via the pre-season supplemental selection period on 26 November 2023, fulfilling his long-held ambition to play for his home-state club.[4] In his debut season with Fremantle in 2024, the 189 cm running midfielder played all 23 games, recording career-high averages of 18.2 disposals, 5.7 marks, and 10 goals while achieving 20 or more disposals in eight matches.[5] Known for his endurance, work ethic, and penetrating long kicks, Sharp signed a two-year contract extension in September 2025, securing his place at the club until at least the end of 2027.[6] As of 2025, he has played 60 AFL games and received one Brownlow Medal vote.[1]Background
Early life and family
Jeremy Sharp was born on 13 August 2001 in Western Australia.[1] He grew up in the Perth suburb of Attadale, where he was exposed to Australian rules football from a young age through local community programs that fostered his early interest in the sport.[3] Sharp's family has strong ties to Western Australian football; his grandfather, Ken Holt, was a prominent player who appeared in 202 games for East Fremantle in the WAFL and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2012 as a damaging half-forward.[7][8] This familial legacy provided foundational inspiration, later leading Sharp to join the Attadale Junior Football Club as he began organized play.[3]Education and junior development
Sharp attended Aquinas College, a private boys' school in Perth, Western Australia, where he participated in school football while developing his skills in the sport.[1][9] His time at the college coincided with a demanding schedule that included commitments to both academic studies and intensive football training across multiple levels.[10] Sharp began his junior football journey with the Attadale Junior Football Club before progressing to East Fremantle Football Club, where he competed in the WAFL Colts division and eventually debuted in the senior side.[9][11] At East Fremantle, he honed his abilities as a versatile midfielder and defender, gaining exposure to higher-level competition that accelerated his development.[12] In 2019, Sharp played six senior WAFL games for East Fremantle, averaging over 15 disposals per game, along with approximately five marks, three inside 50s, two tackles, and contributing three goals overall.[13][14] His performances at this level complemented his national recognition, as he earned selection as an Under-18 All Australian in both 2018 and 2019, becoming one of only three players to achieve the honor twice in consecutive years.[15][16][7]AFL career
Gold Coast Suns tenure
Jeremy Sharp was selected by the Gold Coast Suns with the 27th pick in the 2019 AFL National Draft, recruited from East Fremantle in the WAFL and Aquinas College in Western Australia.[2] The Suns had traded up to secure the selection by exchanging their future mid-first-round pick and pick 64 with Geelong.[9] Sharp made his AFL debut on 6 August 2020 against St Kilda at Carrara Stadium during round 10 of the COVID-shortened season, recording nine disposals in a four-point loss.[17] He played just two senior games that year as the Suns focused on integrating younger talent amid the disrupted schedule. In 2021, Sharp earned a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in round 18 after a standout performance with 30 disposals and 10 marks against the Western Bulldogs.[3] He appeared in nine games that season, averaging 18.3 disposals and 5.9 marks per match while playing primarily on the wing.[18] His form highlighted his potential as an outside runner, though opportunities remained inconsistent. Over his four seasons with the Suns from 2020 to 2023, Sharp played 23 AFL games and kicked seven goals, with 12 appearances in 2022 but none in 2023 due to limited senior selection. That year, he spent the entire season developing with the Suns' VFL affiliate, featuring in 19 matches and averaging 21.3 disposals to refine his game amid challenges breaking into the competitive senior lineup.[19]Trade to Fremantle and debut season
At the conclusion of the 2023 AFL season, Jeremy Sharp was delisted by the Gold Coast Suns after spending the year playing in the VFL, having managed only 23 senior games across his four seasons with the club.[20] Despite not nominating for the 2023 AFL Draft or Rookie Draft, Sharp was signed by Fremantle on the first day of the pre-season supplemental selection period on November 26, 2023, providing him with a second chance at AFL level without any draft picks exchanged.[4] This move allowed the Western Australian native to return home and join the Dockers' list ahead of the 2024 season.[20] Upon joining Fremantle, Sharp was assigned jersey number 14, previously worn by Nathan Wilson, and transitioned into a versatile midfield-forward role, leveraging his speed and outside running ability on the wings.[21] He quickly integrated into the team's high-pressure system during pre-season training, impressing coaches with his endurance and ball-winning skills in practice matches.[4] Sharp's 2024 debut season marked a significant breakthrough, as he earned selection for all 23 home-and-away games, a stark contrast to his limited opportunities at Gold Coast.[22] Averaging 18.2 disposals and 3.9 inside-50 entries per match, he contributed effectively as a linking player, recording 20 or more disposals on eight occasions and helping Fremantle to a strong campaign that included a finals appearance.[5] His consistent performance solidified his place in the lineup, establishing him as a key rotational option in the Dockers' midfield.[22]Recent seasons and contract extension
In the 2025 AFL season, Sharp played 14 matches for Fremantle, contributing to the team's campaign through a growing role in the midfield that saw him spend more time in contested situations compared to his debut year.[1][22] His performances helped solidify Fremantle's midfield depth during a season that featured a mix of strong wins and challenging losses.[5] Across his two seasons at Fremantle from 2024 to 2025, Sharp has appeared in 37 games and kicked 13 goals, elevating his overall AFL career totals to 60 games and 20 goals.[22] On September 10, 2025, Sharp signed a two-year contract extension with Fremantle, securing his place at the club until the end of the 2027 season. Reflecting on the decision, Sharp stated, "I think we are building something pretty special," highlighting his commitment to the team's ongoing development.Playing style and performance
Playing attributes
Jeremy Sharp stands at 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) and weighs approximately 81 kg, a build that lends itself to versatile roles as an outside midfielder or half-forward, allowing him to operate effectively across half-back, wing, and forward lines.[23][24] His key strengths lie in his role as an accumulating outside runner, characterized by blistering speed and exceptional endurance that enable him to break lines and penetrate the forward 50 with precise, penetrating kicks.[14][5][25] Sharp maintains a high kick-to-handball ratio, favoring long, effective disposals that facilitate territorial gains, often exceeding 400 metres gained per game while hitting targets inside 50 and contributing marks in contested situations.[26][27] His astute decision-making and work ethic further enhance his ability to dip into defensive zones or surge forward, providing dash and precise ball movement in transition play.[24][28] Sharp's playing attributes have evolved from the raw athleticism that defined his junior and early Gold Coast career—emphasizing speed and line-breaking potential—to a more polished style at Fremantle, where he has refined his consistency and tactical awareness within the club's high-pressure, ground-covering system.[14][29] This development is evident in his adaptation to a primary wing role, showcasing improved reliability in maintaining output across full seasons and contributing to team structure through versatile positioning.[1][5]Career statistics and honors
Jeremy Sharp has played 60 Australian Football League (AFL) matches and kicked 20 goals as of the end of the 2025 season, with 23 games and 7 goals for the Gold Coast Suns and 37 games and 13 goals for the Fremantle Dockers.[22] His career averages include 15.1 disposals, 9.9 kicks, 5.2 handballs, 4.4 marks, and 1.0 tackles per game.[1] The following table summarizes Sharp's season-by-season AFL statistics:| Season | Team | Games | Goals | Disposals (avg) | Kicks (avg) | Handballs (avg) | Marks (avg) | Tackles (avg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Gold Coast | 2 | 0 | 9.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | Gold Coast | 9 | 2 | 18.3 | 12.6 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 0.8 |
| 2022 | Gold Coast | 12 | 5 | 9.8 | 7.0 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| 2024 | Fremantle | 23 | 10 | 18.2 | 12.5 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 1.1 |
| 2025 | Fremantle | 14 | 3 | 13.2 | 7.0 | 6.2 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
| Total | 60 | 20 | 15.1 | 9.9 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 1.0 |