dailyloe.com – Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir stated that the Dockers have nothing to prove as they prepare for their game against Hawthorn. This match represents their first chance to challenge a top-four team this season, scheduled for Thursday night.
The Dockers are currently enjoying a seven-game winning streak, their best form under Longmuir. Rival coach Sam Mitchell called Fremantle ‘probably the form team of the competition’ earlier this week.
Fremantle has a strong start to the season with a 7-1 record, having previously defeated 2025 finalists Adelaide and Collingwood. Defender Judd McVee is set to return to a nearly full-strength lineup.
Longmuir emphasized that the match is an opportunity to gauge their performance rather than to validate their abilities. He said, ‘[We] don’t have to prove anything to anyone. We just need to see where our footy stacks up.’
The coach noted, ‘Last year we played our best footy against the better sides.’ He believes that the game is another way to assess their progress, regardless of the outcome.
Last year, the Dockers went 5-3 against top-eight teams and previously defeated Hawthorn by 13 points in their only matchup in round 18 at Optus Stadium. The Hawks are yet to lose since their initial defeat in the Opening Round against Greater Western Sydney.
Hawthorn recently drew with Collingwood, and Longmuir dismissed concerns about who is favored in the upcoming match. He mentioned, ‘I don’t really look at that. I feel like an underdog going into every game.’
Longmuir’s focus is on preparing for the best from their opponents. He stated, ‘We prepare for the opposition’s best and make sure we’re up to any challenge that gets thrown at us.’
He acknowledged the Hawks’ strong form, noting that ‘it looks like all phases of their game are in pretty good order.’ He added that statistics indicate they should have won their recent match.
