Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has hit back at North Melbourne great David King after he once again put the heat on the Dockers leader and his tenure in the top job.

The response comes days out from a must-win clash for the Dockers against fellow finals contenders Hawthorn at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, a clash which could determine their September hopes.

King labelled Longmuir the “most under-pressure” coach in the competition following their 11-point defeat to Sydney which led to the WA club slipping out of the top eight.

This is despite Fremantle winning six-consecutive games before the loss to last year’s grand finalists on Sunday and in spite of the fact they are only a win and percentage outside of the top four.

It led to a passionate defence from Fremantle football boss Joe Brierty who said questions about the coach’s future “lack depth” and were “shallow in their research”.

Longmuir also hit back at King’s criticism of him, saying it was “just an opinion”, but was unsure why he was a target of the analyst.

“If I had $1 for every time someone asked me what I’ve done to David King I’d be a rich man and I’d probably be in the Bahamas guts up rather than doing this job,” he said.

“In the end, everyone needs to understand it’s just David’s opinion. We’re a game based on opinion and that’s his opinion. That’s enough said about it.

“I don’t want to be disrespectful towards anyone, but I don’t think David’s put together a gameplan, put together a list, put together a culture. It’s just an opinion and that’s what I take it as.

“It seems to be a little bit over the top, but it seems to be his way with me.”

The dual North Melbourne premiership player has long been a critic of Longmuir’s tactics and coaching style, but his latest comments raised the eyebrows of many given Fremantle’s good form.

“I just think in 2026, the best job in football is coaching Fremantle,” King told First Crack on Sunday.

“I look at their list, I look at where they are and the opportunities in front of this footy club, and I don’t know if that will be Justin Longmuir anymore.

“I think that he has to play finals this year in his sixth season to show that he is the man.”

Longmuir said he only listened to the opinions of those he trusted rather than the outside noise as he looks to become the first premiership coach at Fremantle.

“I don’t get caught up in it because I am always looking forward and looking towards how I can improve my coaching, how I can improve the way we’re playing and try to live by the mantra I teach the players every day. And that’s living in the moment,” he said.

“I know people get caught up in it and some people around me get caught up in that stuff but really I am just focused on the opinions of people I trust around this club and doing the best I can.”

Pressure on coaches is in the spotlight this week after threats were made to under-siege Carlton coach Michael Voss that were being investigated.

Longmuir said he loved the passion in the game but there was a line you couldn’t cross.

“I understand there’s a lot of passion in our game and everyone’s got an opinion because of that passion, and I love it, that passion drives out game and drives the money within our game,” he said.

“I love the passion but there’s a line that you can’t cross and I’m not 100 per cent sure of the Vossy situation but clearly a line has been crossed there and in the end, it is just a game.

“I know there’s passion involved, and we all want our teams to win every week and finish on top of the ladder and win the flag every year – I understand that but there’s a line you can’t cross and in the end it is just a sport. And if he’s getting death threats, that’s going way too far.”

Fremantle’s immediate task is to take on fellow finals contenders Hawthorn in what could prove to be a make-or-break game for the Dockers’ finals hopes.

Longmuir said buying into the must-win narrative would not help their on-field performance, but he accepted that sort of pressure was typical of this part of the season.

“That’s what you get this time of the year. There are eight other clubs in a similar position and even more so because Sydney are fighting for their season as well and maybe Port Adelaide,” he said.

“We have to deal with that. The outcome-based talk and noise becomes really loud this time of the year and what we’ve got to be really good at is making make sure we remain process orientated, focus on winning the day, winning each meetings, winning each training session and making sure we prepare really well.

“And not ride any of those stories. I do it, like win this week and this and that. You start playing out these stories in your head and they’re all based around outcomes and trust me, they don’t help players perform on weekends.”