{"id":540759,"date":"2026-03-14T22:17:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T22:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/540759\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T22:17:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T22:17:45","slug":"fremantle-coach-justin-longmuir-urges-afl-to-scrap-opening-round-weve-got-it-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/540759\/","title":{"rendered":"Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir urges AFL to scrap Opening Round: \u2018We\u2019ve got it wrong\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fremantle<\/a> coach Justin Longmuir has called on the AFL to dump the Opening Round concept, saying it provides teams who are involved an advantage the following week.<\/p>\n

The Dockers opened their season in Geelong on Saturday afternoon, and made an explosive start with a stunning eight-goal first quarter.<\/p>\n

But the Cats, who last week lost to Gold Coast in their season-opener, gradually worked their way back into the contest to set up a thrilling final quarter.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

And while the match was in the balance until the finish, the Dockers ran out of legs as Geelong kicked the only three goals of the final quarter to seal a 10-point win<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It continued a trend of Opening Round teams winning matches against non-Opening Round teams in Round 1.<\/p>\n

Since the concept was introduced, Opening Round teams have won seven of nine match-ups against teams who didn\u2019t play on the first weekend.<\/p>\n

Adelaide bucked the trend with a stirring win over Collingwood, while Melbourne and West Coast also begin their season against Opening Round teams St Kilda and Gold Coast respectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think anyone who has been around football would realise it\u2019s an advantage,\u201d Longmuir said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should all start the season the same way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere should be no competitive advantage in teams having played a game before they play another team.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just makes so much sense to people in the industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we have just got it wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if the club had taken the issues to the AFL, Longmuir said: \u201cWe\u2019ve said it enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Geelong coach Chris Scott revealed the Opening Round likely won\u2019t happen next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a quick of the fixture. My understand is it won\u2019t happen next year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt always presents some opportunities and some challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been planning for it for a long time, probably since October.\u201d<\/p>\n

When pressed on why it won\u2019t happen, Scott said it\u2019s because of the cricket.<\/p>\n

The AFL faces a major headache next year with the MCG playing host to Australia\u2019s sesquicentenary Test against England in mid-March.<\/p>\n

The 150th anniversary Test between Australia and England is locked in from the 11th to the 15th of March.<\/p>\n

Cricket have traditionally held the rights to the MCG through March, but the AFL have gradually taken over the month as they have added new rounds (Opening and Gather) over the past five years to begin their season earlier.<\/p>\n

The clash could force the league to push the entire season back by at least a week, with negotiations already underway between key stakeholders.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Scott lauded his side\u2019s inner belief after Shannon Neale\u2019s five goals powered the Cats to a stirring 10-point come-from-behind triumph over Fremantle.<\/p>\n

Trailing by 35 points before half-time, Geelong stormed home in the second half to post a 16.14 (110) to 14.16 (100) victory at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Cats, who were belted by Gold Coast in the opening round, coughed up eight goals to the visiting Dockers in the first quarter.<\/p>\n

But Max Holmes (32 touches, five clearances), Bailey Smith (30 disposals, one goal) and Tanner Bruhn (24 touches) came to the fore as the Cats logged 13 goals to six after quarter-time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important thing is the players had belief that if we did shift a few things that we could turn the momentum of the game,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a rare situation to have that belief when you\u2019ve been so badly outplayed, you know, they were dominant.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not as if we predicted that start, but we were well aware of the threat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fremantle posted their highest-ever first-quarter score outside WA, leading 8.4 to 3.1 at the first change after Luke Jackson, Hayden Young and Andrew Brayshaw got on top early.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought we allowed them to do what they do best a bit too much, so when there was a bit more pressure around the ball, we thought like we gave ourselves a bit more of an even chance,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt obviously wasn\u2019t going to get fixed in the next quarter – it had to be a belief that over the course of the next three quarters we could work our way into the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of them for believing in the plan and getting it done.\u201d<\/p>\n

– With AAP<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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