Channel 7 AFL commentator Kane Cornes believes John Longmire’s relationship with Sydney looked “slightly strained”, but insists the premiership coach’s departure is a good move for both parties.
Longmire announced his shock resignation on Tuesday, bringing an end a 14-year stint as coach of the Swans.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Kane Cornes discusses John Longmire’s shock decision.
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The longest-serving coach in the club’s history insists his demoralising fourth grand final defeat at the helm didn’t prompt his decision to step down.
The hefty 2024 grand final loss to Brisbane was Longmire’s 333rd and last game in charge, but the coach had told CEO Tom Harley and chairman Andrew Pridham he had been weighing up his future since before that defeat.
Longmire will immediately step into another role at the Swans, becoming their executive director of club performance, while Dean Cox has been confirmed as the club’s new coach.
While Longmire said the heavy grand final losses this year and in 2022 didn’t contribute to his decision, Cornes said it would have weighed on him.
“To me it looked like he was somewhat burnt out and I’m not sure whether the relationship had been slightly strained, he was clearly on edge with the fallout of the last two grand final losses clearly weighing on him,” Cornes told 7NEWS.
“With Dean Cox ready to go … whilst the timing’s not perfect, I think it’s the best move for the club and John.
“As I said the relationship looked slightly strained so to have Dean come in with a fresh voice, more of maybe a modern outlook, he might be able to connect with the players in a different way to John and they might get some results of that.”
Longmire, who became emotional and was on the verge of tears multiple times throughout his final media conference, wasn’t interested in talking about potentially landing another coaching job in the future with Tasmania’s entry into the AFL looming large.
“I can only just comment on how I feel today, I just need to rest,” he said.
“I’m not talking about the Tassie Devils, let’s just get through today.”
Cornes said if Longmire wanted to continue coaching then there would be no shortage of clubs picking up the phone over the next 12 months.
“I think it’s really good for John Longmire, there’s a number of coaches under pressure going into this year. There will be a job available for him in 12 motnhs’ time and he’ll be the most in-demand coach in waiting,” he told 7NEWS.
“Michael Voss is under pressure, we know Matthew Nicks is under pressure, Ken Hinkley — albeit Josh Carr is going to takeover there. Who knows what happens at Fremantle.
“John Longmire is going to be able to take his pick out of any of those clubs and if not them he’ll be the first coach of Tassie.
“I would appoint him tomorrow if I was running a club, just because of the program he runs and to have a coach and footy club that has you competing every year.
“I think this is perfect for him to take a year off, I don’t know if he wants to coach again, but if he does then there will be a number of clubs picking up the phone.”
The Swans had consistently dismissed speculation regarding a succession plan from Longmire to Cox.
But former West Coast ruckman Cox turned down multiple approaches to return to the Eagles as their head coach, in order to remain in Sydney.
“There was nothing in place through that process,” Cox said.
“So mine was a family decision, the ability to really enjoy where we are as a family, and with the possibility of hopefully coaching this great club one day.”
Longmire himself was part of a succession plan, taking over from 2005 premiership mentor Paul Roos at the end of 2010, and admitted he’d always wanted to repeat that path.
“I thought, if I’m going to do it, probably now’s the time to do it,” he said.
“And I always had a dream of making sure that I’d be able to hand the club over in as good a position as I could possibly do it.”
– With AAP