There were wild scenes at the SCG when the final siren sounded on Thursday night. The Sydney Swans had just survived an epic, see-sawing battle, and the players rushed straight to their coach, John Longmire, to celebrate.
Longmire had just watched over his 300th AFL match, and it ended in a thrilling two-point victory over the Western Bulldogs to keep the Swans’ very faint finals hopes alive.
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But for the players, this moment was more for their beloved coach, the man they call ‘Horse’.
Swans players mobbed Horse in the moments after, and they were keen to chair the 2012 premiership winner off the ground.
But it didn’t happen, and Sydney defender Tom McCartin explained why.
“He’d be hating all the attention, Horse,” McCartin told Channel 7 after the game.
“He hates it … bit of a straight bat, Horse, with the media, but yeah, he would have hated that.
“He’s been such a great mentor for me, personally, with footy and, umm, all the boys love him so much.
“I think we’ll have a beer or two tonight to celebrate, and just get around him.”
Seven commentator Hamish McLachlan asked McCartin what was happening on the ground when the players approached the coach.
“What was (Longmire) saying? … I think he was saying, ‘I’m not going on shoulders’. It was sort of almost a negotiation out there,” McLachlan inquired.
McCartin said: “I think he said, ‘Get stuffed, let’s go inside, boys’. As I said, super non-fuss.”
Longmire, during his post-match press conference, called the scenes around his milestone match a “carry on”.
“I had a cake yesterday, that was a bit of carry on, and then I saw my big boofhead on the big screen,” Longmire said.
“But I don’t want to be flippant about it, I’m very lucky to work for a fantastic footy club.
“I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been part of a lot of their journeys. I feel very privileged and honoured that I was a part of it for so long, for so many of them. To see them tonight was a real thrill.”
Small forward Tom Papley – who was also celebrating his birthday – called Longmire a “father figure”.
“Horse is just one of a kind,” Papley said.
“Since I got to the club, (he) just let me be me. Took me under his wing and let me do whatever I want, my game style, (play with) a bit of flair.
“He is one of the most caring people you’ll meet, just like a second father to most of the boys.
“I think if you asked anyone in the club, he is probably one of the most caring people around and just an unbelievable coach and person as well.”
– With AAP
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