Fremantle can confirm the elevation of former player Tendai Mzungu to Justin Longmuir’s assistant coaching panel for season 2027, along with the addition of three-time Richmond premiership defender Nathan Broad and state-league coach Sam Mainwaring to the Club's development program.

Holding off-field roles at Fremantle for nearly a decade, Mzungu has been elevated from backs development coach in 2026 to backs assistant coach in 2027, the assistant coaching role previously held by Jade Rawlings.

Experienced assistant Rawlings will move lines to oversee the forward line, replacing Jaymie Graham, who recently departed Fremantle to join North Melbourne as senior coach.

Mzungu played 106 AFL games with Fremantle and GWS before retiring in 2017 and was a member of Peel Thunder’s 2016 premiership side.

He served as Fremantle's inaugural Woodside Energy Next Generation Academy (NGA) Coach for three years from 2018, before transitioning into a development coach role in 2021.

Already a valuable off-field member of the Freo family, Mzungu says he’s looking forward to playing a new key role with the AFL team.

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to play for the Club and be involved with the NGA. I thought it gave me a real perspective on working with young players and developing young athletes,” Mzungu said.

“I really enjoyed that experience. Then, over the last six years in a development role, I’ve worked with some of our emerging backline players.

“In terms of my skill set, I feel ready to step up and take on a new role as I’ve had some great learning opportunities along the way.

“I’m really lucky to have been able to hold development roles under assistants Twig (Jade Rawlings) and Matthew Boyd. When I began, Matty was my first coach, and he was brilliant for my early development.

“Twig gave me another lens on a different style. He’s really mentored and supported me and helped build my capacity as a coach.

“I love our coaching group and its collaborative, ‘best idea wins’ sort of mantra. I’m really excited to move up and keep building on what we’ve started.”

Broad announced his AFL retirement after 191 games with Richmond, including premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

Drafted from Swan Districts as a mature-age recruit in 2015, the 33-year-old says he’s excited to make a new start back home in WA.

“I’ve been playing for 11 years, and now I’m moving into a new chapter. I’m super excited about a new challenge,” Broad said.

“I’m looking forward to learning and growing under some amazing coaches, who guided Fremantle and Peel Thunder through outstanding seasons this year.

“As I’ve grown older and progressed through my career, the coaching side of things became more prominent for me, especially as Richmond entered a new phase of its journey.

“Over the last few years, with a younger group at Richmond, it fast tracked my leadership and coaching credentials in a sense.

“It was pretty well documented that I was going to retire a long time ago to get back to be closer to my wife’s family and mine.

“Family is a huge part of my life, and that was probably one of the main reasons I chose Freo. Sitting down with them, both face-to-face and over the phone, the family aspect and the family culture they talked about really stuck with me.

“I wanted to be part of a Club that’s a real family club and embraces the partners and kids. So, in the end, it was an easy decision for me.”

East Fremantle colts premiership coach Sam Mainwaring is another new addition to the group, assuming the role of midfield development coach. 

Before taking the helm of the Sharks colts in 2023, Mainwaring gained experience in a variety of roles across multiple clubs and programs from 2011, including Perth, East Fremantle, WA State 18s and the AFL National Futures.

Executive General Manager of Football Joe Brierty congratulated and welcomed Club’s newest coaching additions.

“Tendai has been a long-time servant of Fremantle. To see him work his way up through a variety of roles shows his dedication and skill set,” Brierty said.

“He’s worked hard for this opportunity and to be able to create a pathway for succession from development to assistant coach is something we value as a Club. He’s already built strong foundations and connections with the player group and is ready to step up.”

“It’s also great to welcome a player of Nathan Broad’s AFL experience to our development ranks.

“His genuine passion for coaching really stood out to us, alongside his desire to stay involved in footy, following his retirement at the end of the season.

“Moving from playing to coaching requires real investment, but from our conversations it is clear Nathan is passionate about this next phase of his career and he has the capability to become a great coach.

“He’s eager to learn from our established coaching group, while also bringing a fresh perspective from his own playing career. We look forward to welcoming Nathan, his wife Tayla, and their daughter Samara to the Club.”

“Similarly, Sam has put in the time and invested in his coaching craft over many years. His teaching background shone through when we met with him and he is clearly ready to take the next step into an AFL system.

“He has had a significant impact on the development of the players he has worked with at East Freo, which culminated with the success of recently winning the premiership in the WAFL colts competition. I’m sure Sam and his wife Liana, along with the daughter Florence will become an important part of the freo family.”

Rounding out changes to the Fremantle coaching structure for 2027, Head of Development Geoff Valentine will again lean on his vast coaching experience when he adds Senior Coach of Peel Thunder to his portfolio, returning to the WAFL role he filled in 2022 and 2023.

“We look forward to seeing the impact that all these coaches will have on our program as they step into their new roles, adding important value to the remainder of our coaching department as we prepare for the 2027 season.”

Fremantle’s 2027 AFL Coaching Group  

Justin Longmuir – Senior Coach   

Jade Rawlings – Assistant Coach Forwards*   

Joel Corey – Assistant Coach Midfield  

Tendai Mzungu - Assistant Coach Backs* 

Harry Garland – Assistant Coach Stoppages   

Andrew Sturgess – Opposition Strategy and Leadership Coach  

Geoff Valentine – Head of Development/Peel Senior Coach*  

Chris Mayne – Forwards Development Coach  

Sam Mainwaring – Midfield Development Coach*  

Nathan Broad – Backs Development Coach*  

Sam Naismith – Ruck Coach  

*New role in 2027