Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir has become the second senior AFL coach to be placed into COVID-19 protocols within a fortnight and will miss the derby clash with West Coast.
Longmuir has been forced into isolation after being deemed a close contact to a coronavirus case outside of the club.
It means Longmuir will not be able to coach in Sunday’s match against the Eagles at Optus Stadium.
Instead, assistant coach Jaymie Graham will get a second chance at coaching an AFL club after filling in for Adam Simpson at West Coast back in 2018.
“Our first priority at this stage is the health and well-being of Justin and his family,” Dockers football manager Peter Bell said.
“We will provide all the necessary support that Justin and his family require.”
“We have an enormous amount of faith in what is an extremely capable coaching group and while it’s not ideal that Justin will be dialling in remotely, we know Jaymie and the rest of our coaching team will do a great job.”
Bell said all Fremantle players and football staff had returned negative results after completing RATs on Thursday.
“We have been hyper-vigilant in our endeavours to mitigate the risk COVID poses to the daily operations of the club and we will continue to do so,” Bell said.
“It is a further reminder just how prevalent COVID is in the community.”
The Eagles are coming off their own coronavirus troubles after being forced to call-in top-up players for last week’s game against North Melbourne because they did not have enough available squad members to choose from.
Carlton coach Michael Voss was forced to watch the Blues’ victory over the Western Bulldogs last Thursday from home after testing positive to COVID-19.
Voss will return to coaching from the ground on Sunday when Carlton face Hawthorn at the MCG.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Logies out.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Hopefully Blakely gets a game now. Chapman moved to CHF last quarter and did well (created both goals). Hopefully he starts there this week.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Someone get Belly on the phone, make it happen!
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Don Freo to coach this weekend?
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Last time I checked they could have test results back for Covid quicker than two days, but hey
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
So long as neither ends up at the Cats, then I'm happy. To be honest, I didn't mind Rossy. I think he still has a lot to offer. He's not to everyone's taste, but one thing is certain: this all out attack from every club, will not last. Defensive football will come back, and coaches like Rossy bring that dirty sinister element that is needed. Not every team has to play the same, despite the AFL wanting just pure attacking football. I hated it when the Cats played Freo under Rossy. It was always a nightmare, but he added an edge to the sport like very few have done. He's probably the best coach to not win a premiership, in my opinion. His Saint Kilda team was certainly the best I've seen to not win one.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
So the trick is they need to both coach freo. I think they’re still shell shocked by Lyon.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
This will help Freo. I've changed my tip to them. I'm going to double down on my comments from last year. Longmanure cannot coach. I'm never wrong on these calls. He'll be gone by about June next year. Longmanure and Teague are like Yin & Yang. David couldn't defend, while Justin cannot attack. Perhaps they can become a double act at Port when Kochi boots Kenny?...