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Find your Sport Nation frequencyFears for Longmuir's future after Freo get "arse kicked"
SEN • May 3rd, 2025 10:59 am
Fremantle’s “embarrassing” performance against St Kilda could cost Justin Longmuir his job, according to a four-time premiership great.
The WA side were annihilated by 61 points against St Kilda on Friday night to give them a 4-4 record so far in a season they had been tipped as top four contenders.
Longmuir said the entire club would be “questioning themselves” for the shocking performance, but Jordan Lewis has raised concerns about the coach’s immediate future.
“These types of performances can cost coaches their jobs,” Lewis said on Fox Footy.
“That will be the question, is this coach the right coach to lead this coach forward?
“I think tonight displayed to me they need something to change. It’s been a recurring story this Fremantle Football Club and the way they play.
“That was probably indicated in terms of the way the contract was set up.”
Earlier this year Longmuir agreed to an ongoing employment agreement into next year but there is no fixed end date.
Performance like the one against St Kilda will do little to ease the frustrations and pressures.
Struggle on the road
Garry Lyon has questioned the entire team’s belief that they actually have what it takers to be finals contenders, moreover, he highlighted their inability to win on the road.
Defeat at Marvel marked the second loss in Melbourne in three weeks having succumbed to the winless Demons last month.
Freo has now lost its last five matches in Victoria.
“I don’t think the players genuinely believe they can exist in a top four environment, week in, week out,” Lyon said.
“It is tough and demanding and the standard has to be ruthless, I think that’s an uncomfortable place for them.
“They front up once, get their arse kicked tonight like they did after they were pathetic against Melbourne at the MCG.
“They’ve been in existence for a long time. I’m talking about a football club mentality — not even just tonight — over the journey I’m not sure they believe they are capable — and they’ve played in one grand final in 30 years.
“This is 30 years of this football club. Yes, they have all the pieces, they’ve got this and that. But they were embarrassed."
Longmuir acknowledged after the match that he needed to hold a mirror up to himself.
"I think everyone at the football club at the moment should be questioning themselves," he said.
"The first thing I look at after a performance like that, and any good leader should, is, 'What did I get wrong?'
"Like, I'm not sitting here blaming the players. I've got to look at my own performance this week, and am I contributing to us being an inconsistent team?
"So, of course I'm going to question myself. (I) can't just sit here and say it's all on the players."
