Justin Longmuir Urges Fremantle to Focus on Immediate Moments Ahead of Finals

Fremantle head coach Justin Longmuir has dismissed using the prospect of a maiden AFL premiership as explicit motivation, urging his squad to remain focused on immediate tasks ahead of their qualifying final against Hawthorn at Perth Stadium on Thursday night.

The Dockers enter the finals series following the most successful regular season in the club's history. Fremantle secured the minor premiership by winning 19 of their 23 home-and-away games in 2026. Despite being just three victories away from the club's first-ever premiership, Longmuir insisted that dwelling on the ultimate goal is not the key to success.

Focusing on the Task at Hand

Throughout the campaign, Longmuir has consistently instructed his players to stay grounded. Addresssing the external excitement, he noted that everyone at the club is aware of what is at stake.

"I just don't feel like we need to [lean into it]. If there's someone at the footy club that doesn't see that carrot, well then you're probably in the wrong game, right?" Longmuir said. He emphasized that players process pressure differently, with some viewing it as a stimulus and others as a potential distraction.

"The way to win premierships is to win games of footy, and you win games of footy by winning more moments than the opposition," Longmuir explained. "We've just got to make sure that we give our best to each moment, and the next moment is the most important one."

Fremantle's lone Grand Final appearance since entering the AFL in 1995 came in 2013, when they lost to Hawthorn.

Team Lineups and Match Preparation

Much of the pre-game discussion has centered around Fremantle's home-ground advantage. In Round 9, the Dockers mounted a late comeback powered by their home crowd to defeat the Hawks at Perth Stadium. However, Longmuir stressed that the team cannot rely solely on supporters to overcome a slow start.

"They're not going to get us over the line if we're not playing good footy, so we've got to give them something to cheer for, and it needs to be from the start," he said.

Fremantle will be without key defender Brennan Cox due to injury. However, the Dockers are set to welcome back Murphy Reid, who has recovered from a groin injury, along with Jye Amiss, Heath Chapman, and the retiring Sam Switkowski.

Hawthorn enters the contest with a nearly full-strength squad, listing only two unavailable players on their recent injury report. The Hawks previously recorded a comfortable victory over West Coast at Perth Stadium in their final regular-season fixture.