Not an issue: Dockers give blessing to Jackson’s leave
Justin Chadwick |
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson’s unexpected dash to Melbourne won’t harm the team’s chances in Sunday’s must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs.
Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner’s mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday’s game at Marvel Stadium.
The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday.
Although Longmuir said Jackson’s absence would affect preparation “a little bit”, he said it would have no affect come game time.
“I’m confident we’ll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well,” Longmuir said on Wednesday.
“He’s been in contact with the coaches, he’s watched our reviews.
“Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We’ll work our way through that.
“Come Sunday, it won’t be an issue at all.”
Fremantle’s finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday’s 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth.
If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home).
Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag.
Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk.
“Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance,” Longmuir said.
“As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong.
“There’s a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend.”
The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them.
“The pressure’s on them as well, isn’t it? The last time I checked, they’ve won one less game than us,” Longmuir said.
“The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we’re on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth.
“Everyone is talking like we’re going to miss the finals. We’ve got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I’m confident our way is good enough.”
Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team’s poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable.
“If you don’t laugh you cry sometimes,” Longmuir agreed.
“It’s almost like, ‘Oh, how do you not kick a goal there’, or ‘How did you stuff that up?’
“It just hasn’t been us. I’m guessing that’s what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix.”
Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs.
AAP
