Freo coach upbeat despite losses
Weary Fremantle players departed Adelaide with no premiership points to show for their efforts during a torrid two-game road trip, but coach Justin Longmuir is adamant the back-to-back last-gasp losses are evidence that the Dockers are on the right track.
Longmuir and his charges stayed in Adelaide to lick their wounds following the controversial Gather Round defeat at the hands of Carlton and prepare for Saturday night’s clash against Port Adelaide.
Fremantle led the Power by nine points with five minutes remaining in the contest only for Charlie Dixon and Jason Horne-Francis to kick crucial goals to send the Dockers home with a 3-2 record.
“It’s mixed emotions,” Longmuir said.
“Clearly, to go home from Adelaide (without a win), having been in front in both games with three or four minutes to go, is flattening.
“But I think our belief should have built over the last two weeks.
“We played two really good sides and mixed it with them really well, and pushed them all the way.
“The result is done, but we just need to make sure that we keep learning from it.
“At the back end of both games we’ve lost too many critical moments.
“It’s mixed emotions, but my belief is a lot stronger.
“We walk out of Adelaide with no points, but also with the belief that we’re a really good side.”
Fremantle had the Blues and the Power on the back foot for large periods, but failed to translate that dominance to the scoreboard, which Longmuir concedes is an aspect of his side’s game that must improve.
“We need more bang for buck,” the coach said.
“We need to be able to take the moments when they present in our front half.
“Clearly, we need to score more.
“We’d love to be able to convert better, that’s as simple as it needs to be.
“Our contest work, our ground ball, the way that we’re defending the ground and setting it up is really strong.
“We just need to make sure that we convert when opportunities present.”