LONG before Ross Lyon was sacked, Justin Longmuir loomed large as Fremantle's likely next senior coach.  

The Dockers cast the net wide to find Lyon's successor, but Longmuir ticked all the boxes.

AIMING HIGH Longmuir 'in it to win premierships'

He had served a decade-long apprenticeship at West Coast and Collingwood, successful clubs and off-field powerhouses that Freo aspires to be; is regarded as an astute tactician; and possesses the relationship-building skills and empathy that are integral to modern coaching. 

That he is a former Docker and West Australian were always added bonuses.

Justin Longmuir and Peter Bell at Monday's media conference. Picture: Getty Images / AFL Photos

Twelve years after retiring, Longmuir returns to the club where he played 139 matches with – in his own words – unfinished business. 

The 38-year-old immediately gives Fremantle a fresh direction after the Lyon era, but there is much work to be done before round one, 2020.  

With the help of football manager and ex-teammate Peter Bell, and the yet-to-be-appointed CEO, he needs to get the house in order quickly so Fremantle can make the most of dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe's prime and launch another tilt at a maiden flag.

So what are the first orders of business for the rookie senior coach?  

Longmuir and his family at the announcement of his appointment as Fremantle coach. Picture: Getty Images / AFL Photos

Call Tim Kelly

The Geelong star is expected to again ask for a trade to West Coast, and in return the Cats are eyeing high-end draft picks to replenish an ageing list. While the Eagles might be Kelly's preferred destination, the Dockers will boast more enticing assets. If Kelly is as desperate to return to WA with his young family as many people believe, then Longmuir should request a sit down with Kelly and his manager Anthony Van Der Wielen to pitch Fremantle's case. Kelly would form part of a dream centre square triumvirate with superstar Fyfe and Michael Walters, and pinching him from West Coast's grasp would be an early win.  

Get the Sherrins out early

Towards the end of his tenure, Lyon conceded that Fremantle's ball use and decision-making needed to improve but by then his cards were marked. This pre-season, forget the cross-country bonding trip to Gold Coast and keep the squad at home focusing on skill execution. The Dockers ranked last for kick efficiency in 2018, and 17th for kick rating and shot at goal accuracy. They were the third-worst side for scores per inside 50. For the fourth straight year they ranked bottom-three for points scored. It makes for ugly reading and, at times, was ugly watching. Some of that can be attributed to not having their best tall forwards on the park often enough, but the naked eye has long told the story about Freo's sub-par ball use. There is huge upside here, and Longmuir has scope among his coaching staff – whether they be incumbents or any hand-picked assistants he wants to bring in – to make skills a priority.

Skills need to be a focus under Longmire. Picture: AFL Photos

Sell the vision

The Dockers need to build depth. So if they are going to let star Bradley Hill go to St Kilda and Ed Langdon heads back to Victoria they need to extract maximum value. Securing the Saints' pick six in a swap for Hill and Melbourne's second selection (pick 22) for Langdon would be a good place to start. Add those selections to their own pick seven and 26 ahead of the (rich in WA talent) NAB AFL Draft and the Dockers could complete what was intended to be a four-draft rebuild by bringing in some quality youngsters, if Kelly is unobtainable. The next step is to build a people and family-first culture where players find it difficult to leave. Losing solid citizen and dual Doig medallist Lachie Neale hurt on-field and was a disastrous look, while there have been murmurings about Connor Blakely, plus Victorian duo Cerra (contracted to end of 2021) and Sean Darcy (2022). Player retention will be critical for Fremantle to climb the ladder in coming seasons, and then the prospect of success will help keep players at Cockburn long term.

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Bradley Hill's departure could set Fremantle up to build its talent stocks. Picture: AFL Photos

Empower the next generation

During his introductory press conference, Longmuir outlined his passion for developing players. He wants his troops to be self-motivated to achieve everything they possibly can from their careers, and he takes over at the perfect time with plenty of growth left in a young group. In Fyfe and Walters, who have trod vastly different paths to become elite, he has no better examples of the individual drive and commitment it takes to get there and the rewards that come with it. There is massive potential still in the likes of Jesse Hogan, if he can overcome his navicular setback, Brennan Cox and Cam McCarthy, in particular. Blakely and Griffin Logue have plenty more to offer if they can stay fit, while Andrew Brayshaw, Cerra and Darcy are ready to blossom with more responsibility. This group aged 24 and under needs to drive Fremantle forward.

Can Longmuir get the best out of enigmatic key forward Cam McCarthy? Picture: AFL Photos

Rally the fanbase

Lyon was poached from St Kilda to take Fremantle to the promised land, and it was an inspired move that only just fell short in the 2013 Grand Final against a historically great Hawthorn side. From 2012-15 he delivered the Dockers their most successful era and gave Fremantle credibility. That shouldn't go unrecognised. But as Freo hurtled into an unforeseen rebuild in 2016 and the losses stacked up, Lyon's defensively slanted gameplan wore thin amongst the supporter base. Fremantle recorded the AFL's biggest fall in membership this year and it was a bleak outlook before Lyon's stunning dismissal alongside CEO Steve Rosich following the round 22 loss to Essendon. This is the opportunity to sell hope to fans, many of whom were disenchanted and disengaged but are eager to jump back on board, with a young team playing a more vibrant and balanced brand of football. There is already an air of positivity amongst Freo fans and, as the first ex-Docker to coach the club, Longmuir is in a unique position to harness it.

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