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Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir tells fans to enjoy their run of wins as Flagmantle hype grows

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Craig O'DonoghueThe West Australian
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VideoHear what the fans had to say outside Optus Stadium after Freo's comeback win over Hawthorn on Thursday night.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has given fans permission to celebrate and embrace every part of the club’s eight-game winning streak, but promised the players won’t be getting sucked into the Flagmantle euphoria.

The Dockers produced an amazing come from behind win over Hawthorn on Thursday, ignoring three consecutive six-day breaks to win their eighth game in a row.

More than 54,000 fans packed into Optus Stadium and raucous celebrations followed the 12.16 (88) to 11.7 (73) win.

Longmuir said fans deserved the chance to celebrate hard.

“I’m happy for our fans to be excited,” he said.

“We’re playing an exciting brand of footy. We’ve won a lot of games in a row. Our fans are starved for success. Our fans should be excited about the path we’re on. But our challenge is to just stay in the moment and give every team our best. And it’s been a mantra all year and it won’t change.

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Fremantle fans celebrate.
Camera IconFremantle fans celebrate. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“We’ve done a lot of work on that to be able to stay in the moment, to be able to ignore what the outside world is saying and making sure that we value the right things week to week.

“We get our feedback from the right areas. What people don’t realise is that it takes time for players to learn that and feel comfortable doing that. Our leaders are driving that mantra really well and the rest of the playing group is falling in behind.”

VideoFremantle Dockers play "Wharfie Time" during the clash with Hawthorn.

While excitement levels are high, the Dockers have some concerns over captain Alex Pearce after he was involved in a collision late in the match. Pearce took time to get to his feet and has a history of lower leg injuries.

Pearce is expected to get scans today to learn if he suffered any damage.

“I think he got a knock. He’s a little bit unsure, so he’ll get it checked out,” Longmuir said.

Justin Longmuir chats with Alex Pearce.
Camera IconJustin Longmuir chats with Alex Pearce. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Luke Jackson set up the win with an astonishing last quarter where he won nine possessions, had five score involvements and laid an inspirational smother which set up a goal.

Longmuir said Jackson’s ability to play as a forward and ruckman made him incredibly hard to stop. The Dockers have been playing two ruckmen with either Mason Cox or Sean Darcy selected as his partner and Longmuir said that meant Jackson could have a bigger impact when games are on the line.

“Jacko being forward actually probably straightened us up a little bit and got us deep entries. He probably wasn’t able to clunk any and then when he went into the ruck, a little bit fresher he got to work,” Longmuir said.

Luke Jackson was huge.
Camera IconLuke Jackson was huge. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“He’s a bit of a barometer for us, Jacko, when he’s up and going and doing his thing on ball, he just adds another layer to our stoppage work, and started clanking marks around the ground. He’s a barometer for us. He was huge.”

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