Fremantle eye Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge as Justin Longmuir replacement if side fail again in 2024

There is a push within Fremantle to poach Western Bulldogs premiership coach Luke Beveridge if the Justin Longmuir led side does not improve this season. A number of sources have told The West Australian the Dockers will not extend Longmuir’s contract if his team does not look like a genuine finals chance early this year, with Beveridge — who led the Victorian side to the 2016 flag and 2021 grand final — at the top of their list to replace him. It comes as pressure continues to mount on Longmuir — who is out of contract at the end of this season — after a disastrous 2023 campaign, where Fremantle plummeted down the ladder and finished in 14th place, despite some predictions they would finish in the top four. The side made it to the semifinal the year prior, which marked the only season the Dockers have made finals in the four years under Longmuir. Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick has long been linked to Beveridge and the Bulldogs, where he was CEO for four years from 2010 and played 137 games for the club. Under Garlick, the Dockers have already appointed Bulldogs legend Bob Murphy as their head of football operations in 2021, with the hall-of-famer since shifting to a skills specialist coaching role. They also hired 2016 premiership star Matthew Boyd as an assistant coach in 2020, however Longmuir has been credited for the move. Garlick was also instrumental in Beveridge being picked as Bulldogs coach, having sat on the selection panel that headhunted him when he was the club’s boss in 2014. “He’s building a fantastic reputation in the industry,” Garlick said at the time. “Most importantly, he’s been a key player in driving successful cultures. “He has the ability to make tough decisions when required, and clearly articulate what he stands for and what’s in the best interests of the club.” There is widespread hope among fans that Fremantle’s last season was an example of needing to take steps back to move forward, especially given the current list boasts A-grade talent such as Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, Luke Jackson, Sean Darcy and Nat Fyfe as well as promising youngsters including Jye Amiss, Hayden Young and Neil Erasmus. Beveridge — who is currently contracted until the end of 2025 — is facing similar criticism over east after his side failed to make the top eight last year, with a late loss to wooden spooners West Coast sealing their ninth place finish. He has been at the helm for 10 seasons, with the 2021 grand final marking their only other significant run during his tenure, despite boasting one of the strongest lists in the league. Questions about Beveridge’s future were only amplified this week, when club president Kylie Watson-Wheeler penned a letter to members stating a six-week internal review at the club had found the need to implement “clearer demarcation of reporting lines, roles and responsibilities to ensure individuals are better placed to focus on their specific areas, particularly within the coaching structure.” Under his contract, the Bulldogs would only have to pay the coach out for six months if he were to be sacked. Beveridge said at the end of last season he was still the right man to lead the Bulldogs. “From a leadership perspective and coaching the team and the club, I’m really comfortable with my tenure,” he said in August. Longmuir also weighed into his contract talks earlier this month, stating he would not spend the season worrying about his own future. “There’s always senior coaches out of contract I’m one of those this year,” he said. “I’ve put that in the background of my mind and am focused on making sure I help set the players up for success and the club up for success. “I’m really focused on the now and am excited about how the players are training, applying themselves and embracing the work. “I’ve spent four years telling the players to live in the moment. It’s my time to live that and not worry about that because the outcomes look after themselves.” During the same press conference, Longmuir would not be drawn on whether he had to make finals to keep his job. Garlick said at the end of last year the club would address the coach’s contract when the time was right. “(Longmuir) is contracted for 2024. He has done a terrific job to date,” he said in October. “He will focus on us performing as well as we can in 2024 as will everyone else at the club and that is where our focus is for the time being. “At the right time we will work through it, but we won’t be providing a running commentary on that.” Midfielder James Aish was asked about his coach’s future earlier this week and said the playing group felt no extra pressure to perform for him. “JL is in a good place, he’s coaching well and investing in preparing well for the season,” he said. “(He) is not acting any different at all. There’s no feeling of that at this stage. It’s like any year, we want to win. “As a club we’re striving to keep pushing up and improving all the time.” It comes amid a major reshuffle of Fremantle’s football department, with the club at the end of last season announcing chief operating officer Joe Brierty would take over as head of football from former player Peter Bell, who was moved into a new general manager of football talent, strategy and special projects role. Former Peel coach Geoff Valentine was appointed to head of football operations and development, while Murphy relinquished his head of AFLW duties and shifted to skills specialist, while maintaining his head of leadership position.