Freo’s Longmuir lands top prize; Pie wins key award

Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir has been named the 2026 Allan Jeans AFLCA Senior Coach of the Year.

He has been recognised by his peers for leading the Dockers to the minor premiership as well as the Grand Final - the club’s second appearance in the big game.

Longmuir was the recipient of 260 votes to beat Brisbane Lions mastermind Chris Fagan (216) who has won the last two Coach of the Year awards. Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox was third on 98 votes.

“It is a great honour to win the Allan Jeans AFLCA Senior Coach of the Year award and join the prestigious list of coaches to have claimed it in previous years,” Longmuir said.

“The moment I started coaching, I fell in love with the profession - I get to go to work every day and help players to achieve their goals. That inspires and drives me to be the best coach I can be.

“I see this award as a reflection of the entire coaching group at Fremantle. I couldn’t ask for a more driven, selfless team of coaches to work with and I thank them for their dedication and support.”

In his seventh season at the helm, Longmuir guided Freo to a 19-4 home and away record before recovering from a Qualifying Final loss to Hawthorn by beating Geelong and Sydney, qualifying for the Grand Final where they’ll meet the Lions on Saturday.

Other award winners on the night included Collingwood’s Jordan Roughead who was named the Assistant Coach of the Year.

Roughead, who started coaching with the Magpies AFLW side in 2020, served as Craig McRae’s backline coach in 2026.

He beat Geelong’s James Rahilly and Fremantle’s Jaymie Graham to win the award.

Departing Cats guru Nigel Lappin won the Development Coach of the Year Award. The new Tasmania Devils development coach was ahead of Sydney’s Nick Malceski and Melbourne’s Taylor Whitford.

Long-time Carlton administrator Shane O’Sullivan was presented with the Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and Geelong’s James Kelly won the AFLCA Career and Education Award.