Fremantle’s leadership group are expected to play the role of on-field coaches on game days under new senior coach Justin Longmuir.

After the AFL brought in rules for the 2019 season to limit the influence of runners, Longmuir believes the leadership role is as important as ever. 

As a result, Longmuir hopes to see Freo’s most experienced players take charge.

“I see our leadership group as an arm of the coaching group in a large sense because they’re the guys who are out there leading the players on the field when the coach is sitting up in the coaches box,” Longmuir told SEN on Wednesday.

“We need to be on the same page, we need to really give clarity to our leaders and we need to empower them to be able to make changes on the field.

“That clearly starts on the training track.” 

The early signs are good for Longmuir, who has built a strong bond with Freo’s leaders in his first few months in the role.

“We’ve got a really strong relationship, not just with (captain) Nat (Fyfe), but with our whole leadership group,” Longmuir said.

“I’ve been really impressed with the way that they’ve embraced a new program and I’m really glad to see them take strong ownership in what we’re doing.”