John Longmire, head coach of the Sydney Swans for 14 years, has chosen not to take a knee. On Tuesday he officially ruled himself out of the running for Melbourne AFL’s vacant head coach position. This announcement comes after the sacking of Simon Goodwin in what was a shocker of a season for the Melbourne Football Club. Goodwin’s side had beaten the Lions in the 2021 premiership decider, but lost last year’s decider against Brisbane in a heartbreaker that saw them miss back-to-back premierships.
Longmire is an Australian Rules footballer and acclaimed coach. He had historically great success with the Swans, taking the team to five grand finals during his time there. In November, he resigned from his position as head coach. Today, he’s the executive director of club performance at Sydney. His remarkable experience and outstanding track record as an agency leader put him right at the top of the short list of candidates to replace Goodwin. Though he’s said he wouldn’t want to go back to the coaching spot at this point, so…
In a recent statement, Longmire stressed that he’s not quite ready to jump back into the coaching bubble just yet. His decision to withdraw from the Melbourne coaching search leaves two prominent figures as frontrunners for the position: Adam Simpson and Nathan Buckley. They both have loads of experience to draw upon. Given their impressive credentials, they would be top contenders for the role now opened up with Laura’s departure.
Longmire’s exit from the coaching realm has confused, upset and amazed fans and experts across the league. While some may have hoped for his return to the sidelines, many respect his decision to focus on his new responsibilities within the club. Outside the obvious contenders, the Swans are carving out a different path with Longmire’s departure as head coach. Even in his new administrative role, they can continue to benefit from his expertise.
… but for the Melbourne Football Club, this is a critical juncture. They’re currently seeking a new head coach, someone to help get this team back to championship contention after a rough season. With Longmire stepping aside, both Simpson and Buckley must now step up to demonstrate their vision for the team and their ability to lead its players effectively.
