3 minute read
Fremantle made some important progress in 2020, but first-year coach Justin Longmuir isn't satisfied with where they sit.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is keen to retain forward Jesse Hogan and veteran David Mundy at the AFL club for next season.
Hogan has one year remaining on his Fremantle contract, but his long stint out of the side earlier this season sparked talk he could seek a trade.
The former Demon had fallen so far out of favour at one point that he was being trained up as a defender.
Hogan returned to the side for the final four rounds and showed his value with a four-goal haul in the club's 64-point demolition of North Melbourne in round 17.
Mundy is out of contract, but the 35-year-old's hot form this season is set to earn him a new one-year deal.
Longmuir, who led the Dockers to a 7-10 record and a 12th-placed finish in his first year in charge, wants both Hogan and Mundy to stay.
"Jesse's contracted for next year and Dave we want him to go around again," Longmuir said.
"So we've just got to work through that negotiation and make sure both parties are happy with where it settles.
"He (Mundy) has proven this year that he's got some good footy in him still, and what he brings off the field is just as important. So we'd like to keep him around."
Fremantle ended their season on a disappointing note with a 30-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
But there were plenty of positives to take out of the season for the fledgling side, who recovered from a 0-4 start to get themselves back into the finals race.
The emergence of young talent like Caleb Serong, Hayden Young, Sam Sturt, Liam Henry, Michael Frederick, and Tobe Watson bodes well for Fremantle's future.
The injury-ravaged defence stood tall, with Luke Ryan and Brennan Cox leading the way.
Midfielders Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra announced themselves as future stars, while forward Matt Taberner enjoyed his most consistent year.
But Longmuir wasn't satisfied with the season, and he's warned his players that future improvement will only come through hard work.
"I'm not satisfied with where we're at. We can't be a club that accepts where we are on the ladder," Longmuir said.
"There's been too many games this year where we've been in it at three-quarter time and given ourselves a chance, but just haven't got it done.
"We've got a long way to go on our journey.
"We can't sit back and wait and hope for natural progression. We've just got to demand more from each other and more from ourselves ... and drive ourselves to get better."
