Justin Longmuir isn’t buying into the hype building around Fremantle’s talented list, because as senior coach, he sees that being counterproductive to his role.
On Wednesday, the Club announced that the former Fremantle player turned senior coach had signed a new deal that will see him in the role until at least the end of the 2024 season.
Instead of getting ahead of himself about what Fremantle could achieve in that time, Longmuir feels his responsibility is to control the day to day processes to ensure the playing list maximises its potential.
“I don’t get too excited, not this time of the year,” Longmuir said.
“You don’t really project to a year down the track or two years down the track, you’ve just got to make sure you plan meticulously and control what you can control. That’s the space I live in, I don’t spend my time focusing on what’s going to happen at round 12, right now I’m invested in getting the most out of this media conference and the most out of training today.
“We’ve clearly invested heavily in the draft, clearly invested in adding to our younger age profile with our trade picks. I think, we’re building a core group of players that can take us to the aims in the strategic plan.
“I love the fact that we’re being ambitious as a football club that allows me as a coach to set and hold our staff and players to higher standards. I think that’s exciting for our fans.”
Longmuir said what has pleased him most since arriving at Fremantle has had nothing to do with his work as senior coach, but what he’s seen from those around him.
“I’ve been really happy with our coaching group at the moment. At times, they’re taking on so much, I feel useless! That’s a good sign as far as I’m concerned,” Longmuir said.
“I see the players taking more ownership of our environment and the way we do things. They’ve become really invested in what we do. They’re holding each other accountable to higher standards and higher behaviours.
“What they’re doing on the training track and around the Club is at a higher level than what it was when I started.
“We’re trending in the right direction but we’re definitely not satisfied with where we’re at. We’ve got so much work to do in front of us and the most pleasing part is our players are willing to invest in the work.”
Longmuir has applied a near-term focus to Fremantle’s 2022 fixture, which has been interpreted in the media as being challenging for a Club that finished 11th in 2021.
Fremantle face double-up clashes against reigning premiers Melbourne, finalists GWS as well as West Coast, Carlton and St Kilda.
“You go on last year’s form, you can read a lot into the fixture. A lot to do with the fixture comes when you meet teams and what they’re confronted with at the time. I look at round one, maybe look at round two at a pinch,” Longmuir said.
“Do you know how they’re going to go next year? Those (double-up) teams? There’s always teams that fall out of the top six so you just never know. I don’t get caught up in ‘that’s a good fixture, that’s a bad fixture’ you play who you play, try your best and move on to the next week. Sorry to be boring! That’s me.”
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