Fremantle has announced that head coach Justin Longmuir will enter an "ongoing employment agreement" that will see him in the hot seat into "2026 and beyond".
Longmuir was set to come out of contract at the completion of the 2025 campaign, with pressure mounting on the lack of success since taking over six years ago.
The Dockers are expected to make the leap into premiership contention this year, headed by the elite midfield group that will be aided by the inclusion of match-winner Shai Bolton.
Longmuir believes that his new arrangement with the Western Australian club accurately reflects the coaching landscape in the AFL, allowing for more "protection and security" amid a hyper-intense role.
"It's a privilege to lead this talented group," Longmuir said in a club announcement.
"The external expectation for us to perform and deliver success over the coming years is high, as it should be, and the nature of my contract doesn't change that.
"I believe the variation better reflects the mechanisms that should be in place for coaches to ensure we have an adequate layer of protection and security for ourselves and our families, and we get on with the job.
"I'm as driven as ever to see this group succeed, and as a club, we are all ready to embrace the standards that can deliver the period of contention and success that the Freo family deserves."
Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick shared a similar sentiment to Longmuir, saying the club is willing to embrace the external noise with a locked-in head coach.
"We are strongly invested in what we are building here at Fremantle and have high expectations on what we can achieve over the coming years," Garlick said.
"Following a number of discussions with Justin, it was clear that those expectations we set ourselves is what drives our ambitions and standards, not the length of a contract.
"Justin has been building and leading an elite coaching program, and we believe this agreement complements our plans for him to lead us through a period of sustained contention and success.
"The pressure for the club to perform is always there, and leadership accountability will continue to come from regular performance evaluations and reviews that are central to our success."
The Dockers will have one final tune-up against Melbourne at Rushton Park on Sunday before opening their 2025 campaign against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium in Round 1.
Fremantle's alteration of Longmuir's coaching contract will initially raise eyebrows as to what it actually means.
The change to "ongoing employment contract" has put an indefinite timeline on the former player's coaching career, albeit locked in for at least 2026.
But what the decision has done is attempt to put to bed any media furore surrounding Longmuir's future.
In the past few seasons, Longmuir and the Dockers have had to bat away persistent negativity from the external world as the club has underperformed.
Fremantle were questioned when they extended Longmuir this time last year for one season, while rival coaches like Matthew Nicks and Ken Hinkley have lived similar fates.
Fascinating situation at Freo. The clubโs announced Justin Longmuir will transition from a contract to an employment agreement. It means heโll continue in 2026.
The last two AFL coaches to have an employment agreement (just like a member of staff) were David Noble at North &โฆ
โ Tom Morris (@tommorris32) February 25, 2025
Nicks - who is in a contract year - will need to grapple with the ongoing narrative of whether he is the right man for the Adelaide head job.
Hinkley will stand down at the end of 2025 as part of a succession plan, handing the reins to Josh Carr, but that wasn't before fielding relentless questions about his future, ultimately taking a toll.
Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson alluded to the "cruel" nature of the media following his departure, suggesting the outside pressure can be "disrespectful".
Sacked North Melbourne and Carlton coaches David Noble and Brendon Bolton faced similar contracts during their time, albeit was short-lived.
