Fremantle’s electrifying forward Murphy Reid has capped off a remarkable debut season by being named the 2025 AFL Rising Star, with the announcement made on Brownlow Medal night in front of the league’s elite.
The 19-year-old livewire secured the award with an emphatic 48 votes, pulling clear of highly rated contenders Daniel Curtin from Adelaide (35 votes) and Brisbane’s Levi Ashcroft (26 votes). Melbourne’s Harvey Langford and Geelong’s Connor O’Sullivan rounded out the top five, with Essendon’s Archie Roberts the only other player to feature in the count.
For Fremantle, Reid’s triumph is another jewel in the crown of a season filled with optimism about the future. Drafted at pick No.17 in last year’s national draft, the Sandringham Dragons product wasted no time proving his value at the highest level, delivering consistent performances that made him impossible to ignore in Rising Star calculations.
A Breakout Debut Season
Reid was a fixture in Fremantle’s side throughout 2025, playing all 24 games and averaging 14.5 disposals, 3.2 inside 50s, and a goal per match. His versatility and energy injected spark into the Dockers’ forward line, and his willingness to push higher up the ground showed glimpses of a player who may soon transition into a more ball-winning role.
He announced himself in the most stunning fashion possible. On debut against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, Reid lit up the contest with four goals in the space of just four minutes. While Fremantle would eventually fade and suffer a heavy defeat, his explosive cameo left fans and commentators buzzing about the club’s new weapon.
That wasn’t a one-off. Later in the year, Reid repeated the dose with another four-goal haul in Fremantle’s Round 11 win over Port Adelaide. His growing influence reached another peak in Round 20 against West Coast when he recorded a career-best 23 disposals to go with a goal, further cementing his reputation as a big-game performer.
Despite being deployed as a small forward – a role that often flies under the radar when compared to midfield stars – Reid managed to eclipse 18 disposals on five occasions, a remarkable feat that underscored his ability to adapt and thrive in multiple positions.
Life-Changing Move and Rising Star Speech
Reid’s journey to Fremantle required a swift change of scenery. Within days of the draft, he moved from Victoria to Western Australia to begin life as a Docker – a transition he admitted was both challenging and rewarding.
“It all happened pretty quick. You sort of get two days to wrap your head around it, and you’re off straight away,” Reid told Channel Seven after receiving the award.
“I was very grateful to be drafted to such a successful club, and they really wrapped their arms around me and my family and made it so easy.”
When quizzed about his memorable four-goal debut against the Cats, the young star’s modest nature shone through.
“We weren’t going too great (that day against the Cats), so we sort of had a little hot patch in that game and then fell away and lost by a fair bit ... it was definitely a highlight of my year,” Reid said.
He signed off his speech with humility, acknowledging the quality of the rookie class he bested: “It’s an honour to win the award, with such a stacked group of boys who played this year, so congratulations to all the boys who played this year.”
A Tight and Talented Field
While Reid’s victory was decisive in the end, the leaderboard reflected a tight contest among the league’s brightest young prospects. Adelaide’s Daniel Curtin, a highly regarded key-position defender, pushed Reid hard to finish second on 35 votes. Brisbane midfielder Levi Ashcroft, whose ball use and composure drew constant praise, claimed third with 26 votes.
Melbourne’s Harvey Langford and Geelong’s Connor O’Sullivan rounded out the top five, while Essendon’s Archie Roberts was the only player outside of that bracket to earn votes, finishing sixth on six.
The narrow distribution of votes highlighted how evenly matched the rookie class was, making Reid’s ability to pull clear all the more impressive.
Inside the Judges’ Votes
The panel of judges, made up of respected figures such as Andrew Dillon, Laura Kane, Eddie Betts, Nathan Buckley, Matthew Pavlich, and Kevin Sheehan, unanimously acknowledged Reid’s brilliance. Almost every judge awarded him their maximum or near-maximum points, demonstrating the impact his debut season had across the AFL landscape.
Notably, Buckley was the only judge who did not award Reid top votes, instead placing him third while backing Curtin. Yet Reid’s dominance across the other ballots ensured he couldn’t be caught.
Fremantle’s Future Star
For Fremantle, Reid’s rapid rise is a promising sign as the Dockers continue their push towards sustained finals contention. Small forwards who can not only hit the scoreboard but also gather possessions and deliver inside 50 are invaluable in the modern AFL, and Reid has already shown he has all the attributes to become one of the competition’s elite in years to come.
At just 19 years of age, his growth curve remains steep. The ability to impact both as a crafty forward and as a developing midfielder suggests Fremantle may have unearthed a long-term cornerstone player.
The 2025 Rising Star award not only recognises his breakout season but also hints at what could be the beginning of an outstanding AFL career.
AFL Rising Star 2025 Final Leaderboard
Murphy Reid (Fremantle) — 48 votes
Daniel Curtin (Adelaide Crows) — 35 votes
Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions) — 26 votes
Harvey Langford (Melbourne) — 20 votes
Connor O’Sullivan (Geelong) — 15 votes
Archie Roberts (Essendon) — 6 votes