Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has refused to rule out a miracle push for finals regardless of his Dockers languishing within the backside 4.
After making a drought-breaking finals look in 2022, the Dockers have received simply seven video games thus far this season and one in every of seven because the bye.
It has left Fremantle 10 premiership factors and vital share exterior of the highest eight with simply 5 video games remaining within the home-and-away season.
Longmuir mentioned they’d not dominated out taking part in finals regardless of the uphill battle beginning with a conflict towards reigning premiers Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
“We haven’t ruled it in, we haven’t ruled it out,” Longmuir mentioned.
“We just need to play 120 minutes of footy. And what a great way in one of the bigger challenges in footy to be able to go down and challenge yourself against Geelong.”
Longmuir conceded this season had been disappointing after they made strides and a semifinal in 2022.
“Of course it has been disappointing. We’ve been inconsistent, whereas last year I thought we were much more consistent on the previous year and we’ve taken a step back with our consistency,” Longmuir mentioned.
“After our start to the season, we’ve just been on the back foot the whole year.
“Having said that, we can take some massive strides in these last five weeks and I’ve seen a really good attitude amongst the playing group and really good motivation to be able to maximise these last five weeks.”
Longmuir despatched a powerful message to his younger squad, saying whereas he noticed a constructive future it could not come simply.
“These things just don’t happen. We need to make sure we get the last five weeks right and they get the off-season right,” he mentioned.
“We need to be really clear on how we identify what we need to improve on and then we need to get to work.
“It doesn’t just happen because of age or natural progression. We’re well aware that we just need to stay the course and process orientated and work our backsides off.”
Captain Alex Pearce is for certain to play regardless of carrying a decrease leg harm as he prepares to accomplice with Joel Hamling towards the Cats’ dynamic ahead duo of Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
Longmuir mentioned Pearce wouldn’t want low season surgical procedure and he was at no threat of injuring it extra by persevering with to play.
“He wants to keep pushing through and he wants to continue to build his footy and his leadership and work on all aspects of his game and be there for his teammates,” Longmuir mentioned.
“While his mindset’s like that, we’ll keep backing him 100 per cent.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
