Fremantle coach JUSTIN LONGMUIR has been recognised by his peers for a remarkable season, taking out the prestigious 2026 Monjon Allan Jeans AFLCA Senior Coach of the Year Award on Tuesday night.
Longmuir polled a total of 260 votes, securing the award ahead of fellow Grand Final coach and back-to-back Senior Coach of the Year winner Chris Fagan in second place (216 votes) and Sydney’s Dean Cox in third (98 votes).
It has been a landmark season for Longmuir and the Dockers, who claimed the minor premiership after a club-record 19-win home-and-away season, including a 14-game winning streak and an unbeaten 12-0 record at Optus Stadium during the regular season.
Fremantle's resilience has continued throughout September. After falling to Hawthorn in the qualifying final, the Dockers responded with victories over Geelong and Sydney to book just the second Grand Final appearance in the club's history.
Their preliminary final victory was particularly memorable, with Fremantle overcoming a 28-point third-quarter deficit at the SCG and kicking five unanswered goals in the final term to defeat Sydney by 12 points.
“It is a great honour to win the Allan Jeans AFLCA Senior Coach of the Year award and join the prestigious list of coaches to have claimed it in previous years,” Longmuir said.
"The moment I started coaching, I fell in love with the profession - I get to go to work every day and help players to achieve their goals. That inspires and drives me to be the best coach I can be.
"I see this award as a reflection of the entire coaching group at Fremantle. I couldn’t ask for a more driven, selfless team of coaches to work with and I thank them for their dedication and support.”
Longmuir's connection to Fremantle stretches well beyond his time as Senior Coach. He played 139 games for the Dockers between 1999 and 2007 before beginning a decade-long coaching apprenticeship that included roles at Fremantle, West Coast and Collingwood.
After taking charge of Fremantle ahead of the 2020 season, Longmuir has steadily built a team capable of sustained success, combining his strong tactical knowledge with a coaching philosophy centred on trust, relationships, player empowerment and shared responsibility.
That evolution has been particularly evident in 2026, with a talented Fremantle group delivering the most successful home-and-away season in the club's history and now earning the opportunity to compete for its first AFL premiership.
AFLCA CEO Alistair Nicholson said Longmuir's recognition reflected both the season Fremantle had produced and the work behind the club's progression.
“Justin has done an outstanding job in building this Fremantle group and the results this season are a credit to the environment he and his coaching team have created,” Nicholson said.
“What has been particularly impressive is the consistency and resilience of the group. They have continued to respond to challenges throughout the season and we've seen that again during the finals.
“Justin has committed a significant part of his football life to Fremantle, first as a player and now as Senior Coach, and to be recognised by his coaching peers after the season they've produced is thoroughly deserved.
“We congratulate Justin, his coaching panel and the entire Fremantle Football Club, and wish them all the best for Saturday's Grand Final.”
The 2026 AFL Coaches Association Awards announced throughout the Awards Night, included the Neale Daniher Lifetime Achievement Award, AFL Assistant Coach of the Year, AFL Development Coach of the Year and Career and Education Award.
