FREMANTLE coach Justin Longmuir says he has been able to process the club's heartbreaking Grand Final loss, and he is confident the players will use those final minutes to get better and "fuel the fire" over the coming pre-season.
Longmuir was on Friday confirmed as the new coach for Western Australia ahead of February's AAMI AFL Origin clash against South Australia, with the 45-year-old taking the reins seven weeks after his team's seven-point loss to Brisbane.
While the circumstances of that loss were particularly devastating after the Dockers held a 17-point lead with less than five minutes to play, Longmuir said his group would use the loss to become an even better team in 2027.
"We'll have those discussions when we come back and touch on it briefly, but the message is … it's a moment in time that we learn from and get better from," Longmuir said on Friday after being unveiled as WA's second Origin coach in two years.
"There will be some clear things that we need to get better at and didn't quite execute well enough in the biggest moment.
"But we're always chasing our best selves and ways to get better and it will only add fuel to the fire over pre-season.
"I've been able to process it … and as disappointing as it was to lose the way we did, there were so many positives to take out of the season, the finals campaign, but also the Grand Final."
Longmuir said he had reflected on the final moments at the MCG and what could have been done differently, particularly at a forward 50 stoppage with two minutes to play, which preceded the first of Logan Morris' back-to-back goals.
While the Dockers did get a loose player behind the ball, the pressure of the contest had potentially meant they didn't get players in the right positions to save the game.
"We did put someone back. There's a few mechanics around that situation and especially that forward 50 stoppage that we would like to have again and we didn't execute right," the coach said.
"Sometimes the pressure of the moment can do that. As much as you practice something in training or are able to execute it during the regular season, when the Grand Final was on the line, we didn't quite get a few things right.
"Sam Switkowski was behind the ball, but he needs to get replaced on the wing and we didn't quite get that replaced right, and that didn't allow us to have a deep [player] at that forward 50 stoppage.
"It's hard to look back and you always wonder what we could have done better as a coaching group or a senior coach in those moments.
"But we all need to get better, and we'll all learn from it, and next time we're in that situation – like we've shown over the course of the journey with me as coach – we'll learn from it and get better and be better in those situations next time."
Longmuir joined chief executive Simon Garlick in backing the club's crowd activation 'Wharfie Time' to remain in 2027, saying teams would always use cues tactically in tight games and practice close-game situations.
The coach has recently returned from a two-and-a-half-week coaching stint with Scotland's national rugby team, where he taught specialist 'high ball' techniques.
The move was facilitated through one of Longmuir's coaching connections at NRL club Melbourne Storm, with Scotland keen to utilise Australian Football methods given changes to the way rugby is played with more passing and aerial contests.
"It was a great experience. Quite often you do PD trips and you get to spend a day or two at different clubs and you're sort of on the periphery and you're an observer, but I got the opportunity to spend two-and-a-half weeks there and be part of the coaching group," Longmuir said.
"I was really honoured to get the opportunity, and the game-day experience of them playing the All Blacks, although it was disappointing to lose, was great.
"To step up into international level, it was a bit of an eye-opener and I left feeling really confident that they're on the right track. I'm going to be a bit torn this weekend with who I support against the Wallabies."
On his Origin appointment, Longmuir said it was a "great honour" to coach Western Australia and Sydney coach Dean Cox would return to the program to work as an assistant coach in 2027 after leading the state this year.
The coach expected a similar WA squad would be assembled and said he was keen to reward younger players who have taken steps forward in their careers since February's loss to Victoria at Optus Stadium.
He welcomed the prospect of Swans star Chad Warner representing WA after confirmation on Friday that Sydney players will not be charged after police finalised their investigation into a hotel room afterparty.
"There's footy talk, and there's other stuff that probably needs to get ticked off, and that's not my job. (But) if he's available for selection, we'd love to have him as a part of the team," Longmuir said.
"Clearly, 'Coxy' is going to be a part of this as an assistant coach, so he'll have a say in it.
"The footy stuff will be around whether he's been able to have a pre-season and his fitness is up to the level, and if he's cleared to play, we'd love to have him as part of the team.
"Clearly, he's one of the more talented WA players out there and someone who really invested in the concept last year."
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