Fremantle’s round 23 clash with GWS is the perfect test of the team’s ability to stay in the moment and focus on the next task, with Longmuir admitting even he has thought about the top four permutations that face Fremantle should they get over the line at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
Providing they win, Fremantle need Carlton to beat Collingwood or St Kilda to beat Sydney on Sunday to make the top four, but Senior Coach Justin Longmuir has charged his players not to worry about that situation until it arises.
“I have (thought about top four), but I keep bringing myself back to this week being the most important week, because those scenarios don’t matter if we don’t get the job done,” Longmuir said.
“We spoke about it earlier in the week about this time of year, it having a habit of pulling you away from what’s important.
“We want to make sure that we focus in on Saturday because that’s what we can control, that’s the most important thing for us.
Longmuir said he was reluctant to play Rory Lobb unless he shows he can handle the contest at training on Wednesday, while Nat Fyfe was likely to return to his forward/midfield role should he get through the session unscathed.
Freo’s selection crunch up forward is compounded by the unavailability of Josh Treacy due to illness and the reluctance to bring back Jye Amiss so soon after recovering from a kidney injury.
Amiss kicked two goals off limited minutes in the WAFL against South Fremantle and he is set to play again for Peel this week against Claremont.
“Treacy isn’t an option (due to illness) and Jye is one game back after 12 weeks so it wouldn’t be fair on him to be selected,” Longmuir said.
“Lobb isn’t 100 per cent, he hasn’t been 100 per cent for a while now. We won’t know if he’ll play until after training.”
Longmuir said he doesn’t agree with commentary that the 16th placed GWS have little to play for.
“We’re expecting them to be really strong in the contest, you look at the names through the middle of the ground, it’s impressive and we won’t take them lightly,” Longmuir said.
“We’ll prepare for their best. They were dominant against Essendon and pushed the Bulldogs all the way to the line last week at Marvel Stadium.
“We don’t buy into the thinking that they haven’t got anything to play for, we think they’ve got plenty to play for, we’ve been in that situation and felt the same.
“We’ll review their strengths and what they bring to the table and we’ll need to be on our game to beat them.”
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