Freo GM calls out Caroline Wilson after 'inappropriate' "sore loser" comment

Fremantle Executive General Manager Joe Brierty has called out Caroline Wilson's 'inappropriate' suggestion that coach Justin Longmuir is a "sore loser".

After a disappointing defeat to Geelong in Round 1, the Dockers coach noted a perceived imbalance in the fixture caused by the AFL’s Opening Round format, speaking of a noticeable edge for those who play on the season’s first weekend - as the Cats did.

After his side led by as much as 35 points at GMHBA Stadium, Longmuir commented on what he believes to be a fundamental flaw in the scheduling, suggesting the AFL has got Opening Round “wrong”, despite good intentions behind the concept.

"I think anyone who has been around football would realise this is an advantage," Longmuir said at his post-match press conference after his side’s second-half fadeout.

"We should all start the season the same way. There should be no competitive advantage in teams having played a game before they play another team.

"It just makes so much sense to people in the industry. We've just got it wrong."

In response to those comments, veteran journalist Caroline Wilson felt it was just another whinge from Freo who have been vocal relating to the father/son and Academy rules, as well as travel - which is fair enough.

Wilson urged the Dockers to focus on what they can control - which is winning games of football send setting themselves up for success - rather than complaining about Opening Round.

“When are they going to stop whinging? They whinge about father/son, they whinge about Academies, mainly father/son,” Wilson said on Channel 7’s the Agenda Setters.

“They whinge about travel - completely fair enough. But they’ve got a little bit back with that North Melbourne game (in Bunbury).

“West Coast have won three flags. You can win a flag, Fremantle. You don’t have to not make Grand Finals and not win premierships.

“That was nonsensical (from Longmuir). Not only did several teams go on and win who didn’t play last week after he made this comments, and Richmond probably should have won, so there’s another one.

“Why is everyone ruining a way to promote the code in New South Wales and Queensland? What is all this complaining about? Get on with it.

“It’s a professional sporting organisation, we’ve got a big problem in New South Wales and they’re trying to fix it.”

Wilson added: “Sore loser.”

In response to Wilson's comments, Brierty stood up for his club's head coach, calling her claims 'inappropriate' given the context of a coach's role in shaping decision making within the game.

“I don’t think it was appropriate,” Brierty told SEN WA Mornings.

“Justin is a senior coach, and an expert of the game. He knows all the factors, and he was asked a clear question about what his thoughts were on the structure, and I don’t think I need to go into Opening Round.

“When we look at the competition, and our responsibility to always assess the long-term strategies… the AFL lean on us as clubs and key leaders within clubs to get our perspectives on the health of the game.

“Whether that’s the fixture from a competitive balance perspective, whether that’s the academy structure and the draft, list sizes, it’s important that the critical leaders across clubs and the experts across the industry are giving their perspectives and the AFL can lean on those.

“Ultimately, they become the key decision makers. I think that branding someone a "sore loser" for giving their expert opinion on the game isn’t something that is appropriate in the moment.

“I understand that everyone in our industry, and the content and the media that we produce, there’s going to be headlines, and that was the one for this week.”

Longmuir’s Dockers will look to bounce back from their disappointing defeat when they host Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.