The excitement is building around Fremantle’s midfield in 2023, and even the measured Justin Longmuir can see young guns Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw taking another big step forward this season.

Brayshaw put together an MVP winning season at the age of 22 in 2022, and Serong, who arrived two seasons after Brayshaw, is developing at a similar trajectory.

Longmuir had particular praise for the 21-year-old Serong when asked who had stood out in Fremantle’s match sim and intraclub games.

“Caleb is looking like he’s taken a step forward in his game and is becoming a real leader and key performer in there,” Longmuir said.

“His contest work and his execution has gone to another level and that’s off the back of the purpose he brings to everything he does.”

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Longmuir can even see Brayshaw improving from his MVP season.

“He’s set such a high bar for himself,” Longmuir said.

“His fitness has gone to another level. He’s been working on his hands and his creativity in tight, he’s been able to buy himself a lot of time with the ball.

“I definitely see elements of his game going to another level as well.”

Serong was added to Fremantle’s leadership group ahead of the 2022 season and Longmuir said the midfielder was already capable of bringing out the best in his teammates.

“His leadership has gone to another level…he’s a great role model,” Longmuir said.

“(Serong and Brayshaw) have a massive impact, along with some of the other guys in that age group.

“They’ve been able to connect us as a Club, as a playing group and they’ve been able to set an example that is of a really high level. They’ve been great.”

Longmuir said the Club was working to have the successor to outgoing captain Nat Fyfe decided prior to Fremantle’s practice game against Port Adelaide on 2 March at Fremantle Oval.

“I’d like to give our new leadership group an opportunity before round one to go into a game and lead the playing group, whether that’s the first one (against Adelaide) or the second one (against Port Adelaide), we’ll work it out over the next couple of weeks,” Longmuir said.

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