Caleb Serong

Caleb Serong (born 9 February 2001) is an Australian rules footballer and the co vice-captain of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life
Serong grew up in the Victorian country town of Inverloch before moving to Warragul. From 2013 to 2015 Caleb played for the Warragul Colts JFC he was the U12's best & fairest of 2013 and also helped the U14.5's win the Warragul and District Junior Football League premiership that year. He attended St Paul's Anglican Grammar School and later boarded at Geelong Grammar School on a sports scholarship. He was drafted with the 8th selection in the 2019 AFL draft from Gippsland Power in the NAB League. He made his senior debut for Warragul Football Club at the age of 15. He co-captained the Victoria Country team at the 2019 AFL Under 18 Championships, where he was awarded the team's MVP award and was named in the All-Australian team.

AFL career
Serong was recruited by Fremantle with pick eight in the 2019 AFL draft and made his debut in the fourth round of the 2020 AFL season at Metricon Stadium against Gold Coast.

In Round 8 of the 2020 AFL season Serong was awarded the Rising Star nomination after being one of Fremantle's best players in their 32 point loss to Geelong, and won the award overall at the season's conclusion. A thrilling Western Derby in round 22 of the 2021 AFL season saw Serong win Goal of the Year after kicking a remarkable off-the-canvas banana from an 'impossible angle' deep within Optus Stadium’s south-east pocket. He was awarded the Glendinning-Allan Medal for best on ground.

The 2022 AFL season saw Serong play 22 out of a possible 24 games, missing Fremantle's Round 3 Western Derby due to a sore knee, as well as their clash against GWS the following week. He was arguably best-afield during Fremantle's round 23 clash against GWS at Manuka Oval in Canberra, collecting a game-high 32 possessions, 11 clearances, eight score involvements and kicking a goal. Serong again had a stand out performance the next week during Fremantle's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, racking up 33 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal. Following the 2022 season Serong was named co vice-captain of Fremantle alongside Andrew Brayshaw.

In round 3 of the 2023 season, Serong won the Glendinning-Allan Medal for best on ground in the Western Derby against the West Coast Eagles with 35 disposals and 9 score involvements, and tallying a perfect 10 coaches votes. Serong collected 37 disposals and was best afield during Fremantle's round 5 game against, which was played at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, due to the AFL's inaugural Gather Round. Serong was among Fremantle's best in round 20, during their 7 point win over at Kardinia Park, collecting a game-high 29 disposals. He finished the season having played all but one game and won Fremantle's Best and fairest award the Doig Medal. Serong was awarded his first All-Australian selection at the season's end named on the interchange bench of the 2023 All-Australian team. Serong was also the league leader in disposals with 675 across 22 games and an average of 30 disposals a game.

Fremantle's opening match of the 2024 AFL season saw Caleb break the Fremantle Football Club record for most disposals in a single game, tallying 46 disposals against the at Optus. He was again one of Fremantle's best players the next round against at Marvel Stadium, collecting 35 disposals and eight clearances. The fourth round saw Fremantle travel east for a two week stint in Adelaide, first facing in the AFL's annual Gather Round, and Port Adelaide the following week. Serong collected a club record 17 clearances and 37 disposals in round eight during Fremantle's 24 point win over the at Optus.

Family
Caleb's younger brother Jai was drafted by in the 2021 AFL draft.

Statistics
Updated to the end of round 17, 2024.

! colspan=3 | Career ! 96 !! 22 !! 35 !! 1246 !! 1238 !! 2484 !! 278 !! 414 !! 0.2 !! 0.4 !! 13.0 !! 12.9 !! 25.8 !! 2.9 !! 4.3 !! 34
 * 2020 || || 22
 * 14 || 2 || 1 || 127 || 109 || 236 || 32 || 58 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 9.1 || 7.8 || 16.9 || 2.3 || 4.1 || 1
 * 2021 || || 3
 * 22 || 8 || 10 || 279 || 224 || 503 || 64 || 72 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 12.7 || 10.2 || 22.9 || 2.9 || 3.3 || 5
 * 2022 || || 3
 * 22 || 5 || 9 || 272 || 309 || 581 || 57 || 96 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 12.4 || 14.0 || 26.4 || 2.6 || 4.4 || 5
 * 2023 || || 3
 * 22 || 4 || 10 || 337 || 338 || 675 || 72 || 109 || 0.2 || 0.5 || 15.3 || 15.4 || 30.7 || 3.3 || 5.0 || 24
 * 2024 || || 3
 * 16 || 3 || 5 || 231 || 258 || 489 || 53 || 79 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 14.4 || 16.2 || 30.6 || 3.3 || 4.9 || TBC
 * - class=sortbottom
 * 22 || 4 || 10 || 337 || 338 || 675 || 72 || 109 || 0.2 || 0.5 || 15.3 || 15.4 || 30.7 || 3.3 || 5.0 || 24
 * 2024 || || 3
 * 16 || 3 || 5 || 231 || 258 || 489 || 53 || 79 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 14.4 || 16.2 || 30.6 || 3.3 || 4.9 || TBC
 * - class=sortbottom
 * - class=sortbottom
 * }

Notes

Honours and achievements
Individual
 * ''' Doig Medal 2023
 *  All-Australian 2023
 * AFL Rising Star: 2020
 * AFLPA Best First Year Player Award: 2020
 * AFLCA Best Young Player Award: 2020
 * AFL Goal of the Year: 2021
 * Glendinning–Allan Medal: 2021 (round 22), 2023 (round 3)
 * 22under22 team: 2022