Latest news with #Longmuir
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will supersub Fyfe be unleashed against the Blues?
Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe could reprise his supersub role as early as this week as the two-time Brownlow Medal winner prepares to make his latest comeback from injury. Fyfe missed the start of the season as he built back from knee surgery, then missed more time with a hamstring tear before making his AFL return in round 12 as the sub. The 33-year-old managed just three games before straining his calf while warming up as the sub at halftime of the round 16 win over St Kilda. Fyfe is now ready to return to playing duties, and a comeback via the WAFL is one viable option. But Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is also weighing up whether to bring Fyfe back as the sub for Sunday's clash with Carlton at Optus Stadium. Longmuir pulled the same move when Fyfe was ready to return from his hamstring injury earlier this year. "He offers us a lot as the sub, with his leadership, his maturity, his calm presence on the bench," Longmuir said of Fyfe, who is coming out of contract and is no certainty to play on next year. "And he's been able to come on as the sub and impact through the middle of the game with his experience, role play and contest work. "I'm open to a variety of different roles Fyfe can play, but the No.1 thing is to get is body right and confidence in his body. "It's about making sure we build his footy and confidence in his body so he can really make the most of the last period of the season." In a perfect world, Fyfe would come on at three-quarter time against Carlton to add some late impact. But Longmuir knows playing Fyfe as the sub in his first game back comes with risks. "If you get an injury in the first quarter, can that player hold up for three quarters? That's always a consideration," Longmuir said. "There's a balance of what Fyfey needs and what the team needs. "He needs to be fit and confident in his body and game." Skipper Alex Pearce is also a chance to return after recovering from a lingering hot spot in his shin. Pearce was sidelined for five weeks with the injury, returned against Sydney in round 17, before being sidelined again for the next three weeks after experiencing a flare-up from that game. "I'm more confident than last time. I can't say 100 per cent though," Longmuir replied when asked about the risks of a recurrence. "There's always a risk, but I feel like he's done the work and is in a good spot. "I think we've probably been a little bit more conservative this time, so it should hold him in good stead." some good news for your Wednesday 😍#foreverfreo — Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) July 30, 2025 Meanwhile, defender Kyle Worner has signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to Fremantle until the end of 2027. The seventh-placed Dockers (13-6) have won nine of their past 10 games to be just percentage adrift of fourth spot with four games remaining.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Will supersub Fyfe be unleashed against the Blues?
Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe could reprise his supersub role as early as this week as the two-time Brownlow Medal winner prepares to make his latest comeback from injury. Fyfe missed the start of the season as he built back from knee surgery, then missed more time with a hamstring tear before making his AFL return in round 12 as the sub. The 33-year-old managed just three games before straining his calf while warming up as the sub at halftime of the round 16 win over St Kilda. Fyfe is now ready to return to playing duties, and a comeback via the WAFL is one viable option. But Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is also weighing up whether to bring Fyfe back as the sub for Sunday's clash with Carlton at Optus Stadium. Longmuir pulled the same move when Fyfe was ready to return from his hamstring injury earlier this year. "He offers us a lot as the sub, with his leadership, his maturity, his calm presence on the bench," Longmuir said of Fyfe, who is coming out of contract and is no certainty to play on next year. "And he's been able to come on as the sub and impact through the middle of the game with his experience, role play and contest work. "I'm open to a variety of different roles Fyfe can play, but the No.1 thing is to get is body right and confidence in his body. "It's about making sure we build his footy and confidence in his body so he can really make the most of the last period of the season." In a perfect world, Fyfe would come on at three-quarter time against Carlton to add some late impact. But Longmuir knows playing Fyfe as the sub in his first game back comes with risks. "If you get an injury in the first quarter, can that player hold up for three quarters? That's always a consideration," Longmuir said. "There's a balance of what Fyfey needs and what the team needs. "He needs to be fit and confident in his body and game." Skipper Alex Pearce is also a chance to return after recovering from a lingering hot spot in his shin. Pearce was sidelined for five weeks with the injury, returned against Sydney in round 17, before being sidelined again for the next three weeks after experiencing a flare-up from that game. "I'm more confident than last time. I can't say 100 per cent though," Longmuir replied when asked about the risks of a recurrence. "There's always a risk, but I feel like he's done the work and is in a good spot. "I think we've probably been a little bit more conservative this time, so it should hold him in good stead." Meanwhile, defender Kyle Worner has signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to Fremantle until the end of 2027. The seventh-placed Dockers (13-6) have won nine of their past 10 games to be just percentage adrift of fourth spot with four games remaining.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir says he's confident Alex Pearce won't re-injure shin as return looms
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says he's confident captain Alex Pearce won't have a recurrence of his shin injury should he be deemed fit to take on Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Pearce has played only once since he sustained the injury in the round 11 win over Port Adelaide, returning against Sydney in round 17 before feeling pain at training and being sidelined since. The 30-year-old trained strongly at Cockburn on Wednesday as he looks to prove his fitness and take on the Blues as finals approach. Longmuir said he was 'more confident than last time' that Pearce would not have another setback with the hotspot in his shin. 'I can't say 100 per cent though. The loads of a game are a lot different to the loads you can put him up to at training,' he said. 'There's always that risk but we feel like he's done the work and he's in a good spot.' Longmuir denied they brought the captain back too early to tackle the Swans despite him being unable to stay on the park. 'We're guided by the medicos on that, but he just didn't handle the loads of the game,' he said. 'I wouldn't say we brought him back too early it's just that steep up in loads that caught him our and set him back. 'We've probably been a little bit more conservative this time. So that should hold him in good stead.' It comes as Fremantle face a tricky situation around former skipper and dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe who is on track to return from a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old has not been named in a team since he was the unused sub in the round 16 win over St Kilda, sustaining the injury as he attempted to warm-up. However, the Dockers midfield is firing and the return of star Hayden Young from hamstring surgery has only added more firepower alongside vice-captains Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong. Fyfe trained alongside the midfielders on Wednesday as he looks to earn a spot back in the side, with replacing Neil Erasmus as the sub the most likely option. Longmuir hinted that Fyfe would be the perfect sub once again as they head towards September. 'It could be a number of different roles. He offers us a lot as sub with his leadership, maturity, his calm presence on the bench and he's been able to come on as a sub and impact through the middle of the ground with his experience, role play and contest work,' he said. 'At the moment it looks like our midfield is going well and we've got a good squad together un there but that could change as well. 'I am open to a variety of different roles that Fyfey could play but the No.1 thing is to get his body right and confidence in his body.' Defender-turned midfielder Corey Wagner was not spotted on the track as he battles a heel injury, while ruckman Luke Jackson is believed to be in Melbourne for a funeral.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
‘He's done the work': Coach back Pearce's body to hold up
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says he's confident captain Alex Pearce won't have a recurrence of his shin injury should he be deemed fit to take on Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Pearce has played only once since he sustained the injury in the round 11 win over Port Adelaide, returning against Sydney in round 17 before feeling pain at training and being sidelined since. The 30-year-old trained strongly at Cockburn on Wednesday as he looks to prove his fitness and take on the Blues as finals approach. Longmuir said he was 'more confident than last time' that Pearce would not have another setback with the hotspot in his shin. 'I can't say 100 per cent though. The loads of a game are a lot different to the loads you can put him up to at training,' he said. 'There's always that risk but we feel like he's done the work and he's in a good spot.' Longmuir denied they brought the captain back too early to tackle the Swans despite him being unable to stay on the park. 'We're guided by the medicos on that, but he just didn't handle the loads of the game,' he said. 'I wouldn't say we brought him back too early it's just that steep up in loads that caught him our and set him back. 'We've probably been a little bit more conservative this time. So that should hold him in good stead.' It comes as Fremantle face a tricky situation around former skipper and dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe who is on track to return from a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old has not been named in a team since he was the unused sub in the round 16 win over St Kilda, sustaining the injury as he attempted to warm-up. However, the Dockers midfield is firing and the return of star Hayden Young from hamstring surgery has only added more firepower alongside vice-captains Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong. Fyfe trained alongside the midfielders on Wednesday as he looks to earn a spot back in the side, with replacing Neil Erasmus as the sub the most likely option. Longmuir hinted that Fyfe would be the perfect sub once again as they head towards September. 'It could be a number of different roles. He offers us a lot as sub with his leadership, maturity, his calm presence on the bench and he's been able to come on as a sub and impact through the middle of the ground with his experience, role play and contest work,' he said. 'At the moment it looks like our midfield is going well and we've got a good squad together un there but that could change as well. 'I am open to a variety of different roles that Fyfey could play but the No.1 thing is to get his body right and confidence in his body.' Defender-turned midfielder Corey Wagner was not spotted on the track as he battles a heel injury, while ruckman Luke Jackson is believed to be in Melbourne for a funeral.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Couldn't hit the side of a barn': Dockers miss chances
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has urged his team to become more ruthless after being left to rue yet another missed opportunity to build all-important percentage. The Dockers posted their ninth win from their past 10 matches on Saturday when they defeated struggling West Coast by 49 points at Optus Stadium. The 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph kept Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four. Although a 49-point win on paper sounds strong, Fremantle created enough opportunities to win in the vicinity of 75 points. It continued a trend for Fremantle, who have only won in excess of 50 points once this season. Out of the top nine teams, Fremantle (111.7 per cent) possess by far the worst percentage. If could be a big issue that comes back to haunt them in the next month as they attempt to lock down a finals or even a top-four berth. Longmuir didn't mince his words when talking about the missed opportunity of building percentage after the win over West Coast. "We just couldn't hit the side of a barn, especially in that second quarter - 1.6 and two out on the full," Longmuir said. "When you're 18.18 and there are four out of the fulls (it is a missed chance). "I said to the players after the game, it's been a bit of a trend for us. "I think we held Adelaide to 38 points or something until three-quarter time, and then coughed up three or four goals out of our back half just by going to sleep in that game."It was a bit the same with the GWS game. And you do that across the course of the year - take one per cent here or there - it adds up. "So we need to be a bit more ruthless in that sense. And maybe that's the next step." Fremantle will have another chance to boost their percentage next Sunday when they host struggling Carlton at Optus Stadium, before rounding out their home-and-away campaign with games against Port (away), Brisbane (home) and Western Bulldogs (away). Given the Dockers' poor percentage, they will probably need to win all four in order to nab a prized top-four berth. There were plenty of big contributors in the win over West Coast, but the most pleasing aspect of the triumph was the hot form of Hayden Young. The 24-year-old made his return from hamstring surgery as the sub last week in the one-point win over Collingwood. He was handed a start against West Coast, and went on to tally 23 disposals, seven clearances, 555m gained and three goals before being subbed out early in the last. His efforts earned him a maiden Glendinning-Allan medal as best afield, and he looms as a key player in Fremantle's push for premiership glory. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has urged his team to become more ruthless after being left to rue yet another missed opportunity to build all-important percentage. The Dockers posted their ninth win from their past 10 matches on Saturday when they defeated struggling West Coast by 49 points at Optus Stadium. The 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph kept Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four. Although a 49-point win on paper sounds strong, Fremantle created enough opportunities to win in the vicinity of 75 points. It continued a trend for Fremantle, who have only won in excess of 50 points once this season. Out of the top nine teams, Fremantle (111.7 per cent) possess by far the worst percentage. If could be a big issue that comes back to haunt them in the next month as they attempt to lock down a finals or even a top-four berth. Longmuir didn't mince his words when talking about the missed opportunity of building percentage after the win over West Coast. "We just couldn't hit the side of a barn, especially in that second quarter - 1.6 and two out on the full," Longmuir said. "When you're 18.18 and there are four out of the fulls (it is a missed chance). "I said to the players after the game, it's been a bit of a trend for us. "I think we held Adelaide to 38 points or something until three-quarter time, and then coughed up three or four goals out of our back half just by going to sleep in that game."It was a bit the same with the GWS game. And you do that across the course of the year - take one per cent here or there - it adds up. "So we need to be a bit more ruthless in that sense. And maybe that's the next step." Fremantle will have another chance to boost their percentage next Sunday when they host struggling Carlton at Optus Stadium, before rounding out their home-and-away campaign with games against Port (away), Brisbane (home) and Western Bulldogs (away). Given the Dockers' poor percentage, they will probably need to win all four in order to nab a prized top-four berth. There were plenty of big contributors in the win over West Coast, but the most pleasing aspect of the triumph was the hot form of Hayden Young. The 24-year-old made his return from hamstring surgery as the sub last week in the one-point win over Collingwood. He was handed a start against West Coast, and went on to tally 23 disposals, seven clearances, 555m gained and three goals before being subbed out early in the last. His efforts earned him a maiden Glendinning-Allan medal as best afield, and he looms as a key player in Fremantle's push for premiership glory. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has urged his team to become more ruthless after being left to rue yet another missed opportunity to build all-important percentage. The Dockers posted their ninth win from their past 10 matches on Saturday when they defeated struggling West Coast by 49 points at Optus Stadium. The 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph kept Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four. Although a 49-point win on paper sounds strong, Fremantle created enough opportunities to win in the vicinity of 75 points. It continued a trend for Fremantle, who have only won in excess of 50 points once this season. Out of the top nine teams, Fremantle (111.7 per cent) possess by far the worst percentage. If could be a big issue that comes back to haunt them in the next month as they attempt to lock down a finals or even a top-four berth. Longmuir didn't mince his words when talking about the missed opportunity of building percentage after the win over West Coast. "We just couldn't hit the side of a barn, especially in that second quarter - 1.6 and two out on the full," Longmuir said. "When you're 18.18 and there are four out of the fulls (it is a missed chance). "I said to the players after the game, it's been a bit of a trend for us. "I think we held Adelaide to 38 points or something until three-quarter time, and then coughed up three or four goals out of our back half just by going to sleep in that game."It was a bit the same with the GWS game. And you do that across the course of the year - take one per cent here or there - it adds up. "So we need to be a bit more ruthless in that sense. And maybe that's the next step." Fremantle will have another chance to boost their percentage next Sunday when they host struggling Carlton at Optus Stadium, before rounding out their home-and-away campaign with games against Port (away), Brisbane (home) and Western Bulldogs (away). Given the Dockers' poor percentage, they will probably need to win all four in order to nab a prized top-four berth. There were plenty of big contributors in the win over West Coast, but the most pleasing aspect of the triumph was the hot form of Hayden Young. The 24-year-old made his return from hamstring surgery as the sub last week in the one-point win over Collingwood. He was handed a start against West Coast, and went on to tally 23 disposals, seven clearances, 555m gained and three goals before being subbed out early in the last. His efforts earned him a maiden Glendinning-Allan medal as best afield, and he looms as a key player in Fremantle's push for premiership glory.
