More to Longmuir

by LES EVERETT

THERE was more to Justin Longmuir's game at Subiaco Oval on Friday August 20 than the goal he scored after the siren.

Justin Longmuir cools down in the rooms after his match winning performance against St Kilda. Photo by Les Everett.

The big danger for Fremantle in the game was matching St Kilda's tall forwards.

Longmuir took on the dangerous Justin Koschitzke and his efforts along with those of Antoni Grover and Scott Thornton helped keep things in check.

A natural ruckman, Longmuir has played in the past as a key forward and as a lose man in defence but Friday was the first time I can recall him playing as a set key defender.

The mark in the closing seconds of the game highlighted one of Longmuir's greatest strengths which is his ability to win the ball. This is evident in marking contests and at clearances where Longmuir is often the player who gets the ball away.

It's worth noting that he leads the way - by a considerable margin - in hard-ball gets for Fremantle this year.

Longmuir made his AFL debut in the last round of 1999 after being taken at two in the 1998 draft when Brisbane took Des Headland with the first choice. In 2001 he won the Herald Docker Award and last year finished fourth in the Doig Medal voting.

Longmuir has now played 120 games and kicked 147 goals for Fremantle.

There can be no doubting his importance to the team.

From the Fremantle Herald.

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