Coach’s frustration as airlines slug Freo fans for Sydney final
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says he feel sorry for fans who will now be slugged by airlines to fly to Sydney for the side’s preliminary final clash with the Swans next weekend.
The Dockers lost their home qualifying final to Hawthorn last week, forcing them to go through the gauntlet against Geelong on Friday night.
Fremantle fans celebrate beating Geelong. Getty Images
Their win now keeps their season alive, but they have surrendered home field advantage for the remainder of September.
Sydney will host them at the SCG, likely on Friday night, but the moment Freo's spot was booked flight prices soared.
Flights from Perth to Sydney jumped up by $660 more than they were advertised during the week.
It's a gruelling flight, with many requiring a stopover in Adelaide or Brisbane, which can lead to over eight hours on a plane in some cases.
Direct flights are hard to come by, but Qantas’ Friday morning direct option will set you back $1894. Virgin’s same flight around $1225.
"Of course I (feel sorry for them). A lot of things are supply and demand," Longmuir told reporters on Friday night.
"Unfortunately that's not something I can control."
Fremantle won 19 games this season and the minor premiership and would have remained premiership favourites if they were hosting a prelim.
Instead, Longmuir believes the Swans have flipped the script on his side, even without star players Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, and now captain Callum Mills, who tore his ACL against Brisbane.
"It doesn't really change any planning for me (their player availabilities). It certainly didn't look like they missed those players against Brisbane," Longmuir said.
"They'll go into the game heavy favourites and we'll go over there and give it our best."
The Dockers will be hoping to take down the undermanned Sydney and qualify for their first grand final since 2013.
Fremantle is yet to win an AFL premiership since entering the competition in 1994.
