Fremantle set to appoint Collingwood assistant Justin Longmuir as new senior coach

Justin Longmuir has been a hot favourite for the Fremantle coaching job since Ross Lyon was sacked as his return to the Dockers could officially be announced next week.

Justin Longmuir is set to be appointed as Fremantle’s next senior coach next week, with the Dockers’ exhaustive selection process coming to a close.

The Sunday Herald Sun understands the Dockers have settled on the 38-year-old as the club’s sixth permanent coach, with multiple sources expecting a formal announcement next week.

Fremantle president Dale Alcock refused to confirm Longmuir’s appointment when contacted on Saturday, saying the club was not yet in a position to rule “anyone in or out”.

“What I can say is that we are running a process, we are deep into the process and within the next week we are hoping to have a result,” he said.

Longmuir is set to win the senior position from Gold Coast senior assistant Dean Solomon and West Coast great Peter Sumich, who each presented to the Dockers’ coaching subcommittee over preliminary final weekend.

Gold Coast sources expected Solomon to run second to Longmuir.

Sumich connections had not yet been informed of the Dockers’ decision but were not confident the champion forward would win the position.

Justin Longmuir is set to leave Collingwood to become Fremantle coach. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Port Adelaide assistant and former Brisbane coach Michael Voss held discussions with the Dockers but pulled out of the race before presenting to the subcommittee.

Former Docker Josh Carr and Port Adelaide assistant Jarrad Schofield were also spoken to by the Dockers, but it is not confirmed if this was for the senior position or assistant roles.

Multiple coaching sources were convinced on Saturday Longmuir would be appointed, with some expressing surprise that no announcement had been made this week.

It is understood Longmuir’s Collingwood colleagues also expected the former Docker to leave the club to take up the senior position.

Justin Longmuir climbs above Steven King during his playing days with the Dockers.

A former Fremantle player with close ties to football manager Peter Bell, Longmuir completed a 10-year assistant coaching apprenticeship, starting with the Dockers in development before moving to West Coast and then Collingwood.

Fremantle initially aimed to confirm their new senior coach before the end of the finals, starting with a shortlist in excess of 20 candidates.

The Dockers’ selection subcommittee was made up of football manager Peter Bell, club chairman Alcock, champion defender Luke McPharlin, and board members Sue Murphy and Peter Mann (chair).

The Dockers are yet to appoint a new chief executive, with AFL Coaches Association boss Mark Brayshaw a contender for that position.

Originally published as Fremantle set to appoint Collingwood assistant Justin Longmuir as new senior coach