Fremantle senior coach Justin Longmuir believes it is likely the AFL will utilise hubs in 2021.
Freo travelled interstate only three times in 2020, once to Melbourne in round one and then to Queensland twice to play five games from the Gold Coast and four games from Cairns.
Speaking on Channel 7’s Flashpoint program, Longmuir said it was likely the 2021 season would play out in a similar way.
“I think there will be hubs. I don’t think it will be in the same format and we won’t be away from home as long as we have been this year,” Longmuir said on Flashpoint.
“But I just can’t see us going back to travelling every second week.
“I can see a situation where the WA teams go over east, play four or five games in a short space and then come back and have that reciprocated here where we stay at home for a long period of time.”
In a ‘normal’ season, Fremantle would expect to travel 10 times and Longmuir said he could see a benefit in limiting the team’s flying time.
“We’ve always travelled every second week and it just doesn’t make a lot of sense after this year. I think our players have shown that they can handle more games in a shorter space,” Longmuir said.
“I don’t think it’s affected performance too much and I think it will be the way of the future.”
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