Senior Coach Justin Longmuir has praised the youth in his side for their continued development at AFL level, including the likes of fifth-gamer Matthew Johnson.

Fremantle’s round seven side was ranked the competition’s youngest side in terms of age and games played – compared to Brisbane’s rank of the second most experienced outfit in the league this weekend.

Johnson collected 22 possessions, five clearances, five score involvements and three marks against the Lions, as he went to work against a seasoned Brisbane midfield.

His 2021 draft mate in Neil Erasmus was selected for his first game of 2023 as Fremantle’s tactical substitute, injected into the last quarter where he found four disposals and laid two tackles.

Saturday’s clash with Brisbane marked the first time that Fremantle’s top three picks in their 2021 draft crop – Jye Amiss, Erasmus and Johnson – have been named in the same line-up for an AFL game.

Longmuir acknowledged that the selection panel would continue to refine the mix, which includes giving Freo’s younger brigade greater responsibility.

“We’ll keep changing the mix up, it was probably the most mids we have played all year – so we will keep exploring options,” Longmuir said.

“Matty Johnson got a great taste for it in there today with a seasoned midfield, so we will keep giving him opportunities in there.

“Neil Erasmus was obviously the sub, so we will keep spinning the numbers through there and keep giving some guys a chance.

“I think a few of our younger players didn’t handle the speed of the game early. Once the game settled, Johnno in particular started to pick up the pace of the game and a couple of the things he did in traffic were great.

“We have seen some signs, but we need to be more consistent with it.”

Rebounding defender Jordan Clark (20 disposals at 95 per cent efficiency) echoed Longmuir’s sentiment on young pair Johnson and Erasmus.

“Johnno coming in, he’s played under ten games and what he was able to do today showed he is a special player of the future,” Clark said.

“Hopefully, he can keep progressing.

“Neil played a very important part coming on late there and giving us a bit of grunt around the ball.

“He is another special talent we have got coming through.”

Clark also highlighted the tireless and sometimes ‘unrewarded’ efforts of 20-year-old talent Nathan O’Driscoll, who tallied 14 disposals, five intercept possessions and four marks out on a wing against the Lions.

“He played out on the wing for us today and it’s a very tough role to play, every winger in the competition knows that it’s not the easiest position on the ground,” Clark said.

“You do a lot of unrewarded work, which is something people don’t see.

“He is really important for us and it’s really good to see him go from strength to strength,

“We are hoping to get a little bit more from him in the future, he’s very young and still has a lot of developing to do, so it’s very exciting what he can dish out.”