Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir has engaged high-profile manager Liam Pickering, sparking speculation that media mogul Craig Hutchison is quietly building another “monopoly”.

Pickering works for Hutchison’s Bravo Management, which now has Longmuir, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, Geelong coach Chris Scott, and former Sydney Swans coach John Longmire on its books.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Justin Longmuir secures new manager amid contract talks

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Hutchison, who owns SEN, also employs new Tasmania Devils coach Ken Hinkley.

“I feel a monopoly coming on with you,” veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson said to Hutchison on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.

“So this is obviously an area you were going into in a serious way.”

Recently speaking on 3AW, Longmuir confirmed the appointment of Pickering, but downplayed suggestions it was solely about securing a new deal.

“I’ve clearly engaged a new manager. Liam Pickering is managing me now. It’s not necessarily based around getting me a new contract. There’s a number of things as a senior coach you hire a manager for,” Longmuir said.

But Longmuir’s comments have raised eyebrows, given the fact his “rolling contract” with the Dockers has been widely condemned by many commentators.

“In terms of Justin Longmuir, this is not just about exterior stuff. You’re going to be trying to negotiate a new deal for him,” Wilson said to Hutchison on The Agenda Setters.

But Hutchison refused to comment about Longmuir’s controversial contract.

“I don’t speak for Justin Longmuir or John Longmire, for that matter. Liam Pickering looks after the coaches,” Hutchison said.

Hutchison does, however, personally manage Mitchell, and Wilson stressed that Pickering worked for Hutchison and Longmuir was now under his “umbrella”.

“(Liam) looks after Justin specifically. So I don’t offer any view on that or comment, other than to say, Perth is a great marketplace for sport, and he’s a pretty important figure in the town,” Hutchison said.

Seven’s AFL expert Kane Cornes, who has been critical of Longmuir’s rolling contract, said the Freo coach would undoubtedly have a new contract come Round 1 next year.

“None of this rolling stuff that all the Perth mafia tell me he’s happy to be on,” Cornes said.

Hutchison again remained tight-lipped.

“I’m not involved, and I don’t seek to get involved, other than I’m rapt he had a win on the weekend,” Hutchison said.

WiIson: “Is there any chance you can tell your own show ... break some news on your own show? Do you plan on expanding your stable? Do you hope to manage Ken Hinkley soon?”

But Hutchison insisted he was “not getting involved in any of that”.

“Ken’s already got a job, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he’s alright,” Hutchison said.

Despite the new management group, Longmuir was visibly anxious in the coach’s box when Geelong pulled within 10 points during Friday night’s semi-final at Optus Stadium.

“It was a fair win. It was a franking night for the coach,” Hutchison said.

“He was probably under not (Matthew) Nicks-like pressure on him, or was there (that heat)? The stakes were pretty high for him.”

Adelaide coach, Nicks, was reportedly going to be sacked if he did not win a final this year, and if the Dockers had lost to Geelong, they would have been out in straight sets.

It would have also meant that Fremantle had lost its past three finals at home (including an elimination final to Gold Coast last year) under Longmuir.

“When Geelong got to 10 points up and the shots of Justin Longmuir biting his nails in the coaches’ box, I felt absolutely sick for him,” Wilson said.