Footy ‘heartland’ Western Australia ‘taken for granted’: Freo coach slams travel disadvantage

Despite the other three remaining AFL clubs not in the VFL keen to join the competition, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir doesn’t want his club to go down that path.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MAY 10: Justin Longmuir, Senior Coach of the Dockers addresses the team at the quarter time break during the 2024 AFL Round 09 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium on May 10, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has accused the AFL of neglecting heartland states Western Australia and South Australia in a dramatic escalation of the competitive balance debate.

Last week’s revelation in this masthead – that Geelong had privately argued West Coast and Fremantle were not disadvantaged by travel because they received 12 business class seats for long-haul flights – ignited an angry backlash from the west.

Now, Longmuir has declared that the introduction of Adelaide’s Gather Round without any compensation for the WA clubs had officially “tipped the scales” against West Coast and Fremantle.

Longmuir also called on the league to minimise their time spent interstate through simple common sense.

The Dockers believe their preparation for Friday night’s blockbuster against Collingwood is being inexplicably shortened because of a fixture issue last week.

The Dockers played at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night against St Kilda, immediately after the Giants hosted the Bulldogs in the twilight fixture.

“Little things like if we played twilight against St Kilda we’d be home Saturday night. But because we play a night game we’re not home until midday Sunday, and we’ve got a six-day break into a Friday night game,” Longmuir told this masthead.

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Justin Longmuir addressing his troops. The Fremantle mentor said the AFL has left WA clubs out in the cold over travel disadvantages. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“For me, those sorts of things in the fixture should be non-negotiable.”

The Dockers started their season with back-to-back six-day breaks as they bounced between Perth and Melbourne. Their opponents received seven-day breaks.

“You shouldn’t have to do a six-day break off travel early in the season,” he said.

“You’re off a six-day break and they’re off a seven-day break early in the year, but you’re travelling … those sorts of things are easy fixes for WA teams.”

Longmuir said the competition needed more balance.

“I feel like for whatever reason, the AFL has neglected a heartland of football, and that’s WA,” Longmuir said.

“To a lesser degree South Australia, but I think South Australia get Gather Round, which is a competitive balance – an extra home game is pretty significant.

“But I feel like there’s a bit of neglect to our heartland and in a way I feel like it’s been taken for granted. You can’t take your heartland for granted.

“You look at pathways, the fact that we can’t take NGAs (inside pick 40) and WA teams have to travel an extra round.

“Because of Gather Round, we’ve got another away game.

“Something needs to come back the other way. Travel for WA teams understandably is a part of it, and we accept it.

Justin Longmuir walks off the Adelaide Oval during the side’s loss in Gather Round. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“But to just add another one for Gather Round? And not have anything come back the other way?

“That’s tipped the scales, I reckon. It’s gone a bit too far.

“All of those things just pile up and make it harder and harder for the WA teams.

“That’s doing a disservice to WA football.”

While West Coast, Adelaide and Port Adelaide want to join the VFL, Longmuir said his club’s alignment with WAFL club Peel Thunder worked.

“The Peel and Freo relationship is really strong. They play the same style, same roles and players don’t have to travel,” he said.

“We travel 50 people at the moment, add another team to that and the logistics of travelling 90 people each week for two teams to play … I can’t get my head around that.

“That’s a big burden for interstate teams and a huge amount of money.

“It’s not broke for us, so it doesn’t need fixing. I’m really comfortable with the way our players have developed if they’re not playing AFL.”

Fremantle will clock 62,000km of travel this season, compared to Carlton’s 13,500km. Longmuir doubled-down on his criticism of the Cats’ pushback.

“I’ve worked at Collingwood and I’ve worked in the west at two different clubs – it doesn’t compare,” he said.

“The difference that travel applies to your program, staff, player fatigue is not comparable.”

Originally published as Footy ‘heartland’ Western Australia ‘taken for granted’: Freo coach slams travel disadvantage