Fremantle forward Jesse Hogan is in the midst of his longest goal drought but coach Justin Longmuir doesn’t want him to fret.

Hogan has gone six AFL matches without kicking a goal – a stretch that started in the round 14 loss to Melbourne last year when he suffered a serious foot injury.

The 25-year-old has scored just three behinds in his five appearances this year and he’ll be desperate to break his duck in Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium.

Hogan’s previous longest goalless run was a three-match streak in 2016 while he was at the Demons.

Longmuir is mindful but not worried about Hogan’s goal drought.

“He’s holding up well,” Longmuir said.

“I’ve been mindful to make sure that I’m reassuring him that it’s not all about kicks, marks, handballs, goals.

“He’s got to make sure he executes his role, which has a defensive aspect and an offensive aspect.

“I thought against Melbourne in our last game he did really well.”

Longmuir pointed to Michael Walters’ recent six-game goalless run as evidence that the tide will eventually turn.

Walters ended the rot with a goal against Richmond last week, and he followed it up with a three-goal haul in Monday’s win over Melbourne.

“So it’s a message to all our forwards – it’s not necessarily about hitting the scoreboard all the time, it’s about executing their role,” Longmuir said.

“The goals will come if he sticks to that.”

Longmuir confirmed defender Reece Conca would miss the match against the Kangaroos with a tight hamstring, opening the door for Tobe Watson’s return.

Fremantle are in 13th place with a 6-9 record, but Longmuir isn’t worried that one or two more wins would result in them sliding down in the draft pecking order.

“It’s not something that has crossed my mind before you asked that question. Absolutely not,” he said.

“We’re here to build a winning culture, and we want to perform week in, week out.”

North Melbourne (3-12) are just one win and percentage above last-placed Adelaide after losing 12 of their past 13 games.