John Longmire Rules Out Carlton and Essendon Coaching Roles, July 23

By Danny Kontos

July 23, 2026

04:22 AM

3 min read

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Key Points

John Longmire ruled out Carlton and Essendon coaching roles on July 23.

Ken Hinkley appointed Tasmania's inaugural coach on five-year deal starting November 1.

Longmire will focus on NSW business and family instead of returning to AFL coaching.

Former Swans coach won 2012 premiership and coached Sydney for 12 years.

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John Longmire has ended speculation about his AFL coaching future by ruling out both the Carlton and Essendon head coaching vacancies. The former Sydney Swans coach, who won the 2012 premiership, said on Wednesday night he is not ready to return to coaching. He will remain in Sydney as the Swans’ executive director of club performance and focus on a business he helped start 18 months ago.

Why Longmire stepped back from coaching

Longmire explored the three vacant coaching roles but ultimately decided against pursuing any of them. He told Fox Footy that he was asking more questions about the jobs than the clubs were asking about him, which signalled where he stood. He said the process became clear over time that coaching was not his priority right now.

Tasmania job went to Ken Hinkley

Ken Hinkley was announced as Tasmania’s inaugural coach on Monday on a five-year deal starting November 1. Hinkley, Longmire, and former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley were all interviewed for the role. Longmire said Hinkley will do a great job with the Devils ahead of their 2028 AFL entry.

Business and family time take priority

Longmire said he helped start a business in New South Wales 18 months ago that he is now fully committing to. He plans to travel and watch his children play sport. He confirmed he will stay in Sydney focused on the business, which he said has great potential and growth prospects.

What this means for Carlton and Essendon

Carlton and Essendon must now look elsewhere for their head coaches. Both clubs have been searching for new leadership after recent coaching changes. Longmire’s withdrawal narrows the field of experienced candidates available to both teams in the current coaching cycle.

Final Thoughts

Longmire’s decision removes a high-profile name from two of the AFL’s most prominent vacancies. His focus on business over coaching reflects a broader shift in priorities after 12 years leading Sydney.

FAQs

Why did John Longmire rule out coaching Carlton and Essendon?

Longmire said he is not ready to coach again and wants to focus on his NSW business and family. He felt the clubs were not as interested in him as he was exploring the roles.

Who got the Tasmania Devils coaching job instead?

Ken Hinkley, the former Port Adelaide coach, was appointed as Tasmania’s inaugural head coach on a five-year deal starting November 1.

What is Longmire doing now instead of coaching?

He remains as Sydney’s executive director of club performance and is focusing on a business he helped start 18 months ago in New South Wales.

How long did Longmire coach the Sydney Swans?

Longmire coached Sydney for 12 years until stepping down after the 2024 grand final loss to Brisbane. He won the 2012 premiership with the club.

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About Author

Danny Kontos

Co Founder

Danny Kontos has been a stock investor since 2007 and co-founded Meyka in 2023. He keeps a small, focused portfolio and only moves when the numbers are hard to argue with. He has waited years on a single position before. Before Meyka, he ran a web hosting company and a mortgage lending platform, so he knows what a well-run business actually looks like under the hood. This article did not come from a news cycle. It came from someone who has been watching this space for a long time.