Fremantle Coach Stands by Jye Amiss Ahead of Melbourne Match
Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir has publicly backed key forward Jye Amiss, expressing strong confidence that the player is close to returning to his best form. This support comes as the Dockers gear up for their upcoming clash against the Melbourne Demons at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
Recent Performance Challenges for Amiss
In the opening round loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, Amiss managed only one goal from four possessions and a single mark. This performance extends a concerning trend, marking the fourth time in his last five games that he has recorded five disposals or fewer, a streak dating back to the latter part of the previous season.
Despite these struggles, Longmuir remains optimistic. "I spoke to him during the week, but he created a lot of opportunities," the coach stated. "Clearly we need to maximise a few of those opportunities. He’s not far off in that sense."
Coaching Adjustments and Team Strategy
Longmuir highlighted that the coaching group is actively working to assist Amiss by diversifying his roles on the field. "We need to help him as a coaching group, mix up his roles a little bit more and challenge his opponent in different ways, whether that’s defensively or getting higher up the ground," he explained. "It’s a mix of things but we need to give him the flexibility to be able to try a few of those things."
The Dockers are likely to continue with their three-pronged tall attack, featuring Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss, and Amiss, as they face Melbourne. Additionally, the team is developing strategies to counter Melbourne's dynamic player Kysaiah Pickett, who poses a threat both in midfield and attack.
Focus on Melbourne's Strengths and Injuries
Longmuir acknowledged Melbourne's strong start under new coach Steven King, noting that they were one of nine teams to score over 100 points last week. Key performances included Jacob van Rooyen kicking six goals and Brodie Mihocek adding three. "They’ve changed their team up. Quite a few new faces, bit of youth. The backline looks different to what we’ve faced as well," Longmuir observed.
On the injury front, Hayden Young is set to miss the Melbourne clash due to a minor hamstring strain, though Longmuir hopes for a swift return. Young sustained the injury early in the Geelong game but played through it, following surgery on his right hamstring last season.
As Fremantle prepares for this critical match, the focus remains on supporting Amiss and implementing effective game plans to secure a victory against a revitalized Melbourne side.
