Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has backed trusted assistant Jaymie Graham to balance going through the coaching process at Carlton and Essendon while remaining a key figure at the Dockers.
Graham has made the shortlist for both clubs and is viewed as a senior coach-in-waiting, having coached at St Kilda and West Coast prior to his current stint at Freo and having also taken care of WAFL side East Perth in 2018.
Both clubs are expected to announce their coach by the end of the season, meaning it is feasible Graham will be aware he will not be at the club in 2027 while trying to guide them to a flag.
We have to work through that with the club he got the job with but I'd be really comfortable with him staying on and doing the job," Longmuir said on SEN on Saturday.
"Obviously, he's a mate of mine, he's been with me for four or five years and I have a lot of trust he can walk and chew at the same time.
"I think he can have a bit of focus on the job ahead in the future for him but also stay in the moment and do a job we need him to do right now. He's really keen to see it through with us. He's really invested in what we're doing. He would want to stay around and see it through as well."
Longmuir, in a roundabout and amusing way, reiterated his advocacy for Graham's credentials.
"Not really," Longmuir quipped when asked if he wanted Graham to get a role.
"To be honest, I'd rather him miss and stay with us, he's a very good coach. He's a mate and someone I rely on a fair bit so I'd rather he stay but I've said plenty of times I think he's ready for the job.
"He's had a great apprenticeship, been at multiple clubs, coached his own team and worked his way across the different facets of the footy department and coaching department."
Those comments echo the sentiment of footy boss Joe Brierty on AFL Nation ahead of last night's game.
"The impact he's had in working really closely with our forwards, but obviously our assistant coaching group and JL (Justin Longmuir) and him have a really strong relationship," Brierty said.
“So, (we're) right behind him from a support perspective, letting those processes play out and just having constant dialogue with myself and JL and (chief executive Simon Garlick) and what that looks like.
“And then ultimately, once a position's found on those roles, we'll have another discussion.
“But from our perspective, whether he was successful or not, he would continue to coach out the season with the club.”
