AFL Fixturing Under Fire: Longmuir Slams “Wrong” Opening Round Setup
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has voiced strong criticism of the AFL’s fixturing arrangements, declaring the league has “got it wrong” regarding the impact of Opening Round on subsequent fixtures. For the third year in a row, the Dockers have been scheduled to face an opponent in Round 1 who was slated to participate in the earlier Opening Round, while Fremantle themselves were not. This disparity, Longmuir argues, creates an unfair competitive advantage.
The issue came to a head following Fremantle’s Round 1 loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. Despite leading at every change, the Dockers ultimately succumbed to a Geelong side that had already played a competitive game. Longmuir’s frustration was palpable, especially given the high expectations surrounding his Fremantle outfit for the 2026 season.
“Anyone who’s been around football would realise it’s an advantage,” Longmuir stated emphatically. “We should all start the season the same way; there should be no competitive advantage for any team playing a game before they play another team. It just makes so much sense to people in the industry, and we’ve just got it wrong.”
Longmuir indicated that these sentiments were not new, and that the AFL was well aware of Fremantle’s concerns. “Well, we’ve said it enough,” he responded when asked if the AFL had been made aware of their views.
The Dockers’ performance against Geelong highlighted their struggles, particularly in the second half. After building a significant lead, powered by their most potent first-quarter performance outside of Western Australia, Fremantle faltered. Poor goalkicking proved to be a critical factor in their downfall, with the team managing a disappointing 3.8 after halftime.
“We were disappointed with the way we handled the second half and disappointed with how we handled the last quarter,” Longmuir admitted.
Geelong’s Resilience Shines Through After Coaching Spray
Conversely, Geelong coach Chris Scott acknowledged his team’s awareness of Fremantle’s threat but admitted they were still caught off guard by the Dockers’ blistering start. The Cats, looking to rebound from a lacklustre performance against the Suns in the previous week, found themselves in an unfamiliar position after the opening term.
Max Holmes, speaking after the match, described coach Chris Scott’s address at the first change as “the maddest I’ve seen him.” Forward Shannon Neale corroborated this, revealing that the word “disgraceful” featured prominently in the coach’s impassioned spray.
Scott, however, praised his players’ unwavering belief in themselves and the coaching staff’s strategy. “The most important thing is the players had belief that if we did shift a few things that we could turn the momentum of the game,” Scott explained. “We thought we allowed them to do what they do best a bit too much, so when there was a bit more pressure around the ball, we thought we gave ourselves a bit more of an even chance.”
He stressed that the turnaround wasn’t expected to be immediate but rather a result of sustained effort over the remaining three quarters. “It obviously wasn’t going to get fixed in the next quarter – it had to be a belief that over the course of the next three quarters we could work our way into the game. I’m proud of them for believing in the plan and getting it done. It’s a rare situation to have that belief when you’ve been so badly outplayed. They were dominant.”
Key Performances and Takeaways
Geelong’s Turnaround:
* Superstar forward Jeremy Cameron made a successful return from injury, booting three goals.
* Shannon Neale also contributed significantly with five goals.
* Midfielders Max Holmes and Bailey Smith were instrumental in the Cats’ resurgence in the centre of the ground.
Fremantle’s Efforts:
* Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong, and Hayden Young were among Fremantle’s standout performers.
* Isaiah Dudley led the Dockers’ scoring with three goals.
The Round 1 fixture, marred by the fixturing controversy and a dramatic second-half turnaround, has ignited debate about fairness and competitive balance in the AFL. While Fremantle rues a missed opportunity, Geelong celebrates a hard-fought victory built on resilience and a powerful coaching intervention. The focus now shifts to how the AFL will address these concerns and ensure a more equitable start to future seasons.
