Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has transformed the Dockers into a defensive juggernaut, with Gary Lyon believing the first-year coach should be in contention as one of 2020's best coaches in the league, per SEN.
Since returning to Perth, the Dockers have conceded just one score above 50 points - coming against the Eagles in their first clash back at Optus Stadium.
Since then the Fremantle backline has proven to be an impenetrable force despite missing starting defenders in Alex Pearce, Joel Hamling and Griffin Logue.
After holding the Swans to just two goals on the weekend, Lyon said Longmuir has to be touted as one of the league's best coaches in 2020.
โThe Swans only kicked two goals on the weekend, but I think it says more about the other team to be honest. Theyโre on the right path,โ Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
โJustin Longmuir, heโs not the coach of the year, but he would be in the conversation I think.โ
Longmuir has quickly established himself as a crafty head coach, with Tim Watson complementing his efforts in a difficult season.
โHeโs been able to do things that other coaches havenโt been necessarily able to do,โ Watson said.
โThe imprint that he has been able to give his team in a short space of time with all the things weโve had to deal with given COVID-19, heโs been able to really build something and itโs solid.
โEach game that they play in, even though they donโt win every game, theyโre in every game because of the way they play.
โHeโs done a great job organising that group.โ
Lyon further added that two-time Brownlow medalist Nat Fyfe has had another superstar season despite not being named as one of this seasons best.
โI was watching a fair bit of that Sydney and Fremantle game and as I was watching I was thinking god, Nathan Fyfe might still be the best player in the competition,โ Lyon said.
โSome of the stuff he did in that game, itโs just mind-blowing.
โIโve said this many times, heโs won two Brownlow Medals, he could end up with four, thatโs how good he is.
โI know heโs missed a fair bit of footy and heโs played forward a bit, but his numbers are just compelling and things he does, I think we shrug our shoulders a little bit and just say thatโs Fyfe, heโs a freak.โ
Fremantle are set to welcome Greater Western Sydney on Saturday at Optus Stadium.
