Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has backed injury-prone duo Matt Taberner and Nat Fyfe to play key roles subsequent yr, because the “frustrating” wait on Liam Henry’s future continues to tug on.
The Dockers reached the semi-finals final season, however Longmuir concedes his group have taken a step again this yr after tumbling to 14th with a 9-13 report.
Longmuir is assured he has the core group of gamers wanted to carry the membership its maiden premiership, but it surely seems more and more unlikely Henry will stay part of that mission.
Fremantle have tabled a contract extension for the 21-year-old, however the in-form winger is but to make his intentions recognized.
“The ball’s in his court. We’re awaiting a decision from him,” Longmuir informed reporters on Wednesday.
“I haven’t given him a timeline. These things usually come post season.
“Belly (Fremantle soccer boss Peter Bell) has been on report saying the longer these items go, the extra probably they do not go our means.
“It’s frustrating. But in the end, we’ve given Liam a lot of opportunity and tried to develop him the best we can to get him to this point where he’s playing consistent AFL footy.
“He’s been on the membership for a very long time now – since he was 13. It can be disappointing if he goes, as a result of that is the perfect place for his profession and for him to proceed to develop.”
Taberner managed just four games this season before undergoing back surgery.
In his absence, Jye Amiss, Josh Treacy, Luke Jackson and Sam Sturt have played important roles in attack.
Taberner is now 30 and has struggled to avoid injury for most of his career, but Longmuir is backing the 198cm spearhead to play a key role alongside the developing Amiss next year.
“I’ve bought little doubt Tabs can get again to his greatest footy as soon as he places his accidents behind him,” Longmuir mentioned.
“The second half of the yr, we’d have cherished to have had Tabs obtainable, as a result of he would draw the perfect defender.
“It takes a little bit of pressure off Jye, and gives us more structure ahead of the ball when JT (Treacy) goes into the ruck..
“Tabs is a vital participant for us going ahead.”
Fyfe spent the pre-season training as a forward, but the experiment didn’t last long.
Two serious foot injuries restricted Fyfe to just nine games in 2023, and Longmuir said the two-time Brownlow medallist will return to his customary midfield role next year, if his body can handle the rigours.
“The plan is to get him extra midfield time within the pre-season and see how his physique holds as much as that,” Longmuir mentioned.
Fremantle spherical out their season towards Hawthorn on the MCG on Saturday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
