Sydney premiership coach John Longmire has ruled himself out of becoming the new senior coach at Melbourne, leaving Adam Simpson and Nathan Buckley as the early frontrunners.
After a frenetic week in the AFL in which the Demons sacked their drought-breaking 2021 premiership coach Simon Goodwin, and Carlton recommitted to Michael Voss to coach them into the 2026 season, Longmire and the Swans confirmed on Saturday he would not pursue the Dees’ job.
John Longmire.Credit: Getty Images
Longmire’s withdrawal leaves West Coast premiership coach Simpson and Collingwood great Buckley as the two most prominent candidates who have coached at the level to lead the Demons, whose hunt will focus first on those with experience.
Buckley, linked to becoming Tasmania’s inaugural coach for their entry in 2028, said this week he had rediscovered his desire to coach again at the top level and expressed an interest in taking the Demons job, describing the opportunity as “compelling”. Simpson was less forthcoming but left the door open.
