Justin Longmuir hopes his first Len Hall Game as a coach will be a special one in front of a full house at Optus Stadium when Fremantle take on North Melbourne on Saturday night.
The clash is an important one for Fremantle for many reasons, with the ninth-placed Freo looking to push into the top eight while continuing a long-standing club tradition.
The 2021 Len Hall Game will be the 25th running of the game. The 25th anniversary was set to be played in 2020 before the season was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fremantle first started acknowledging the Anzacs in 1995, the same year that Collingwood and Essendon started their Anzac Day tradition.
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After playing a number of Len Hall Games as a player, Longmuir is hopeful it will be just as moving as a coach.
“It is a special game. We’re commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Len Hall Game this weekend and it’s a great opportunity that we get to pay tribute to past and present service men and women,” Longmuir told Seven News.
“We just want as many Freo supporters to come out and support the cause and support us as a team this weekend.”
The last Len Hall Game was also celebrated as David Mundy’s 300th AFL game and the star veteran is still going as strong as he prepares for his 338th.
Longmuir said he could see Mundy playing on beyond 2021.
“David was fantastic (against Adelaide). He was especially good when the game was on the line, he led us really well,” Longmuir said.
“I could (see him playing on in 2022), it’s a long season and we’ll have to see how he plays out the rest of the season and how he feels himself at the end of the year and see if he wants to play on a again.
“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge but the way he’s playing at the moment and leading our younger group is phenomenal. He’s doing a great job.”
Longmuir also gave a positive update on the ankle injuries to Adam Cerra and Joel Hamling.
Cerra injured his ankle against Adelaide while Hamling is aiming for a return as early as round eight against Brisbane.
“There seems to be a lot of syndesmosis injuries going around the AFL at the moment and it can quite often miss a long period of time. (For Cerra) to get away with three to four weeks is a good result,” Longmuir said.
“Joel took a big step forward today at training. He’s out on the track running around and he looks like he’s going to join full training in the next week or two. Whether it’s round eight or nine, it’s on the horizon, so that’s pleasing.”
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