Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir embracing expectations as premiership dream looms large

Far from letting his mind drift towards football immortality, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is urging his players to stay in the moment as they gear up for Thursday night’s qualifying final against Hawthorn in Perth.

The Dockers are yet to win a flag in their 32-year history, but they have an excellent chance to end that drought this month after securing the minor premiership and two home finals.

The weight of expectation is big, and former Dockers ruckman Longmuir knows each player will handle it differently.

But after the raging success of Fremantle’s 1-0 mantra after every win this year, Longmuir wants his players to stay level headed rather than getting caught up on the chance to become a Dockers immortal.

“If there’s someone at the club that doesn’t see that carrot, well then they’re probably in the wrong game. All our players know what’s on the line,” Longmuir said on Tuesday.

“Everyone feels it in different ways. Some players will see it as a stimulus and some players will maybe see it as a distraction.

“We’ll work through that. Everyone sees pressure as different things and we’ve done some work on that, and it’s all about staying in the moment.

“The way to win premierships is to win games of footy, and you win games of footy by winning more moments than the opposition.”

Fremantle will welcome back Murphy Reid, Jye Amiss, Heath Chapman and the retiring Sam Switkowski for Thursday’s clash, but defender Brennan Cox (calf) is out.

Mason Cox will again be handed the back-up ruck role, meaning Sean Darcy misses out on a spot in the team altogether.

Hawthorn regain small forward Jack Ginnivan (sore back) as they attempt to become the first team to beat Fremantle at Optus Stadium this year.

The Hawks came close in round nine when Jack Gunston kicked six goals and Nick Watson three, only for the Wharfie Time-inspired Dockers to kick the last five goals of the match to snatch a 15-point victory.

Either Oscar McDonald or Alex Pearce will take on Gunston, but finding a match-up for Watson looms as more difficult, given Fremantle’s struggles against small forwards of late.

“He’s a unique match-up,” Longmuir said of Watson, who earned his maiden All-Australian blazer this year after kicking 55 goals.