Fremantle Dockers are now a genuine premiership contender according to Nathan Buckley and David King

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has thrown his support behind Flagmantle with the Brownlow medallist declaring Justin Longmuir’s men can win this season’s premiership.

The Dockers surged back into the top four after demolishing Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Sunday. They face West Coast, Essendon, Geelong, Greater Western Sydney and Port Adelaide in the run home and will be attempting to secure the double chance for the first time since 2015.

Fremantle’s dominance over the Demons began in the midfield as Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson gave the midfielders first use of the ball, and they shattered records with their clearance numbers. Combined with electrifying run from half-back, the Dockers booted their second-highest score of the season.

When asked if Fremantle could win the flag, Buckley was emphatic with his response.

“Yeah, they can. I think they can,” he said on SEN.

“They still need to perform consistently on the G against the best sides and we don’t really get to see that until September. But with their midfield, with the run they’ve got off the back, when Frederick and Switkowski are both playing, they are a really dangerous side.”

Fremantle’s second thumping of Melbourne this season has also turned noted critic David King into a believer.

King has been vocal about his lack of confidence in the Dockers when they were playing conservative footy. But King is a huge fan of the team’s attacking attitude since thrashing the Demons in the first week of June.

The Dockers averaged 76 points across the first 11 games but that’s soared to 100 points from their last seven matches. King said the use of forward handballs to generate speed, and the risk taking after creating turnovers has turned Fremantle into a formidable team.

King believes the changes Longmuir has made to the game plan this season and the wins they have already produced means the Dockers can now challenge most teams. He said it was clear Fremantle are not only one of the AFL’s genuine contenders, but they have the potential to be a top team for a long time.

“This can take them a long way,” he told Fox Footy.

“This travels. This can go to the MCG. This can go to Sydney. We’ve seen it go to Sydney. It can go to Brisbane.

“I don’t care where they finish on the table, if they want to play like this, they’re a force. Sixty-four points out of the defensive half is the most since round six 2010 for Freo. That’s a long, long time. A lot of games of football in between.

“Let’s hope this is the model, but irrespective, they are looming. Whether it’s this year or next, they are looming large.”