Neither Essendon nor Carlton have made contact with Sydney’s 2012 premiership coach John Longmire as yet about their senior coach roles for 2027 and beyond.
Longmire, who has spoken to the Tasmania Devils about their coaching role, has not been sounded out yet by the Bombers or Blues, according to a source fully apprised of the long-serving former senior coach’s situation, speaking off-record.
This does not mean that Carlton and Essendon will not approach Longmire to gauge his interest in their positions. Longmire is expected to be on the radar of both clubs in due course.
Essendon are not being hurried in their coach search because they have not yet established either a set of criteria for their next senior coach, or a panel to interview and assess candidates. Their football director on the board, ex-Essendon (33 games) and Sydney player (228 games) Ted Richards, was a key player in the 2012 premiership that Longmire coached, and he played under “Horse” from 2011 until 2016.
Carlton only confirmed their coach search panel on Thursday, with chief executive Graham Wright, football boss Chris Davies, president Rob Priestley and ex-West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson forming a four-man panel, with former champion and board member Greg “Diesel” Williams acting as a consultant in the process.
Simpson has ruled himself out as a candidate at both Carlton and Essendon.
Longmire, who has a 63 per cent winning record and coached the Swans in five grand finals for four losses, would arguably be the frontrunner for the Essendon position if he was willing to pursue the job, which became available after Brad Scott’s removal early last week. The Bombers will insist on a process, in which president Andrew Welsh, a former 162-game player, shapes as a key figure in the decision-making.
Media discussion of Essendon’s coaching position, which has been taken by assistant and 2000 premiership player Dean Solomon since Scott’s exit, has been dominated by James Hird’s open pursuit of the role since last Tuesday night, when he declared his candidacy on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified program, alongside his friend, ex-Collingwood president and host Eddie McGuire.
Carlton are certain to canvass what they assess to be the most capable assistant coaches in the market. Caretaker Josh Fraser has ruled himself out, despite winning three out of three games since taking over from departed coach Michael Voss.
When quizzed about Hird’s candidacy following Scott’s removal, Welsh said the club not ruled anyone in or anyone out.
Ex-Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and Simpson suggested that the Hird question had to be settled before they and other serious candidates considered the role. But it is unclear what impact Hird’s pursuit of the position will have on the field of candidates in the eventual Essendon coach search process.
“Essendon now have to decide before anything else, before they ask any other person, they have to decide whether James Hird is going to be their coach,” Hinkley told SEN last week. Hinkley was sounded out about a football department position, alongside Scott, last year.
The Devils have spoken to Longmire, Nathan Buckley and Hinkley as part of their coach search, which will be decided well in advance of the team’s entry into the AFL competition as the 19th team for the 2028 season.
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Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.
