‘This is it’: AFL’s most under-fire coach ‘has to play finals’ to keep job as ‘nonsense’ excuse ripped

'Has to play finals this year' | 08:09

It’s finals or bust for Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir who now sits as the “most under pressure” coach in the AFL.

That’s the opinion of two-time premiership Roo David King who believes the Dockers have to make the eight for Longmuir to stay at the helm next season.

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“I just think 2026, the best job in football is coaching Fremantle,” he said on First Crack.

“I look at their list, I look at where they’re at, I look at the opportunity in front of this footy club and I don’t know if that’s going to be Justin Longmuir anymore, I really don’t.

“I think that he has to play finals this year in his sixth season to show that he is the man.”

Dockers players look dejected after the loss to the Swans. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Less than five months after the Dockers announced Longmuir had signed an “ongoing employment agreement” once his contract ends this October, Fremantle sit outside the top eight following Sunday’s loss to Sydney.

Of Fremantle’s six losses this season, four of those have come against sides sitting outside the top eight.

“It has to come back not to the magnets for me, (but) to the man at the top,” King said.

“Is he the guy to take them all the way to a premiership?

“Sixth year – I have my doubt. Had my doubts for a while.

“We’re not talking about winning the thing ... They’ve been rebuilding for the best part of a decade.

“I reckon he’s (Longmuir) under the most pressure in the AFL right now.

“He’s on a contract that didn’t give you any confidence.

“If you miss the eight, that’s a disaster.

Dockers dominated in stoppage battle | 08:02

“They’ve had the luxury of the extra home game … I just think this is it.

“Find out whether this guy is your man – if not, rip the bandaid off and go again. Find the guy that is going to take you there.

“This club has meandered for a while. This list, when they got (Shai) Bolton, everyone said they are ripe now.

“They are ripe to go and that’s not to win the flag, we’re talking making the eight now.

“That’s watering expectation down far too low.

“I think the heat’s on him.”

Fellow First Crack panellist Leigh Montagna feared Freo could fall into a repeat of 2024 where they lost their final four games to drop from top four to miss finals altogether.

“Can they handle the expectation and pressure?” he questioned.

“They can’t afford a repeat of that or I think there’ll be big decisions made at the end of the season,” King replied.

The Roos great said there were no excuses for Freo, who still have home games to come against Hawthorn, West Coast, Carlton and Brisbane.

Fremantle find themselves outside of the eight after the loss to Sydney. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

“Everyone says they’re a young team. I think that’s nonsense,” King said.

“You look at that team today, they had three players under 22.

“I don’t give them the outs that others give.

“When you’ve got (Josh) Treacy, (Shai) Bolton and (Murphy) Reid who is probably going to be one of the favourites for the Rising Star in your forward line; your midfield (is) stacked – (Luke) Jackson we’ve talked about for half the year as the best ruck in the comp, (Caleb) Serong, (Andy) Brayshaw; I know that (Hayden) Young’s out. He’s an absence at the moment which is a concern, but the way they play for me, leaves them vulnerable against every team.

“They just play a slow brand of footy. They play a different brand of footy.”

The Dockers fixture has them playing four of their last seven games against current top eight teams, and King believes they’ll need four wins in their final seven games to make it to finals.

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