Success or failure? How Fremantle’s season rated – and what the club needs to do next

3 hours ago 3

Opinion

September 15, 2025 — 2.34pm

Success or failure? We want a definitive answer when evaluating how our teams fared.

However, put bluntly, the Fremantle Dockers’ 2025 season was a failure.

Their finals loss to Gold Coast stung. But what about the rest of the Dockers season?

Ultimately, along with the 16 other sides who don’t lift the premiership cup, they’ve fallen short of what they set out to achieve.

But it’s very rarely that black-and-white.

The Dockers’ return to finals – their first September campaign since 2022 – was a huge tick. Crucial road victories and their record against fellow finalists was another.

Sixteen wins, Fremantle’s equal second-best return in a home and away season, points to further development.

This all while week-in, week-out fielding a side regularly in the bottom four for age and games experience.

But the bitter end, losing a home final when leading in the final three minutes against Gold Coast – who were in their maiden finals campaign – leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

Fremantle’s campaign was one of growth and progress, but missed opportunities.

Next year, expectations will again rise and so too will the pressure, with no one at the club under more scrutiny than coach Justin Longmuir.

Entering his seventh season in charge, Longmuir is now on a rolling contract after club powerbrokers decided to rip up the standard fixed-term deal.

He’s locked in for 2026, but his future beyond this is sure to be a constant talking point.

So, what should the Dockers focus on next?

Get Hayden Young fit

Arguably their most influential player, and easily their best user of the ball, the star midfielder managed just nine appearances, his lowest return in four years.

Hayden Young is shaping as a key Dockers player - and his fitness should be prioritised.

A broken leg, hamstring and a groin adductor derailed his season.

Fremantle are a far superior and threatening team when he’s up and going.

List development

There will be natural improvement from plenty in their squad, but growth isn’t always linear. A young list gaining crucial finals experience will aid this.

The likes of Neil Erasmus, Matt Johnson, Karl Worner, Nathan O’Driscoll, Jye Amiss, and Cooper Simpson all need to elevate in performances and consistency.

Murphy Reid is likely to clinch Rising Star this year.

Murphy Reid could be anything. He couldn’t have been more impressive playing every game – set to result in being crowned this year’s Rising Star.

A big pre-season could even see him used in midfield stints at times.

Ball movement

The Dockers looked their most damaging when playing with freedom and speed on the ball. They’ve been criticised for being too conservative with ball in hand.

Another elite ball user off half-back would further challenge opposition and give their forwards the best chance of kicking big scores.

After acquiring big names Shai Bolton and Luke Jackson in recent trade periods, it’s unlikely Fremantle will land another ‘big fish’, but Demons duo Trent Rivers or Judd McVee would suit this brief.

Covering the loss of leadership and depth

Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters and James Aish have all retired.

Along with Jaeger O’Meara, this trio was the Dockers most experienced group. Alex Pearce, Caleb Serong and Andy Brayshaw will carry more of the burden, but they’ll need leaders to emerge and help spread the load.

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