Two Fox Footy gurus have been perplexed by what North Melbourne champion David King described as Fremantle’s “farcical” decision to extend head coach Justin Longmuir’s contract by only one year.
Longmuir’s contract was slated to expire at the end of 2024, and his status, combined with Fremantle’s poor 2023 finals exit, made him one of the most under pressure coaches in the AFL.
However, on Thursday evening, ahead of the club’s Round 1 match against Brisbane, the Dockers announced Longmuir had signed a contract that would keep him with the club until the end of 2025
“It’s farcical; everyone sees through this right away,” King told Fox Footy.
“It’s a PR stunt gone wrong. Imagine giving a guy one year.
“You’re not saying, ‘He’s our man, we’ve got him for another three years, get used to it, and lay down your guns.'”
“He’s under great pressure to get this club going, to play the type of game we’ve seen from [Craig] McRae and [Matthew] Nicks, and to see where football is headed.
“I just think they’ve made what they think is a great sell into a PR disaster.”
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall described the decision as “extraordinary” during Fox Footy’s pre-game coverage.
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