How Freo and Longmuir are handling "immortal" pressure

Winning a club’s first flag delivers immediate immortal status, a notion and pressure not lost on Freo coach Justin Longmuir who said the team is navigating the fine balance of dangling the carrot and not getting ahead of themselves.

Since joining the AFL in 1994, the Dockers have won two minor premierships and finished runners-up in 2013 but remain one of only three clubs not to win a premiership.

Freo are currently joint favourites to win the 2026 flag and will play host to Hawthorn this Thursday in a qualifying final as they look to end the club’s drought.

Asked how he and his players are handling the pressure of expectation, Longmuir told SEN’s Fireball they will stick to their simple mantra which guided them through an impressive season which included just four defeats.

“It’s a question that has to be approached with balance,” he said. “I would be very surprised if it’s not at the forefront of everyone’s minds; it’s crept into my mind.

“We have set ourselves up the best we ever have. Everyone knows the carrot is there; it’s about making sure we stay in the moment which has been our mantra all year.

“We give our best every week, and we have to hone in on that.

“When you get this close to something you really want, outside noise can take over; we are trying to keep our focus on the moment.”

Perhaps the biggest distraction for Freo in recent weeks was the bombshell announcement from Sam Switkowski last week when the small forward announced his retirement at just 29-years-old.

Switkowski turned his back on a two-year contract from the club and a glut of interest from back home in Victoria.

It’s understood he is simply eager to move on with the next phase of his life as a soon-to-be father.

Switkowski has played 127 AFL games since being drafted by Fremantle with pick 73 in 2017 from the Box Hill Hawks.

Asked if he had been taken aback by the news, Longmuir said: "It wasn’t a shock when he announced it but I think he has a lot of footy left.

"When he first said it, he left the door ajar a little bit, but he was very considered about what he wanted and once he committed to it there was no swaying him.

"I've seen how much work he has had to put into getting his body right. We supported the call but it was surprising when he first told us."