John Longmire Rules Out North Melbourne Coaching Role, September 23

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has ruled himself out of the vacant North Melbourne senior coaching position after multiple phone conversations with Kangaroos president Sonja Hood. Longmire, who played 200 games for North Melbourne including the club’s 1999 premiership, made his decision on Monday after receiving additional job information from North CEO Jenn Watt. His withdrawal follows Adam Simpson’s identical decision last week and reflects North Melbourne’s stated preference for first-time head coaches over experienced second-time coaches.

Why Longmire stepped back

Longmire never met with North Melbourne officials in person. According to SEN’s Tom Morris, North football boss Todd Viney suggested to the Simpson camp that their research indicated second-time coaches are less likely to be successful. This preference shaped the Kangaroos’ approach to the search. Longmire, who coached Sydney from 2011 to 2024 and won one premiership with the Swans in 2012, is now a coaching director at Sydney.

North Melbourne’s coaching search widens

North Melbourne sacked Alastair Clarkson earlier this month with one year remaining on his contract. The club is now pursuing first-time head coaches rather than experienced candidates. Melbourne premiership coach Simon Goodwin also withdrew after being sounded out by the Kangaroos. Goodwin, who coached the Demons for 192 games between 2017 and 2025 and won the club’s drought-breaking 2021 premiership, is now Sydney’s coaching director and said he is not yet ready to return to senior coaching.

First-time coaches in the mix

North Melbourne is considering several assistant coaches for the role. Jayme Graham, who impressed in the Bombers and Carlton coaching searches and finished second to Craig McRae in the 2021 Collingwood hunt, is a leading candidate. Daniel Giansiracusa, James Kelly, Murray Davis, and Roos assistant Xavier Clarke are also expected to be considered. Nathan Buckley, a former Collingwood coach, remains in the mix despite being a second-time coach option.

Longmire’s playing legacy at North

Longmire played 200 games and kicked 511 goals for North Melbourne as a player. He was part of the club’s 1999 premiership team. His decision not to pursue the coaching role means North will not reunite with one of its former stars in a senior capacity. Simpson, another former North player who won two premierships as a player and served as captain, also opted out of the search last week.

Final Thoughts

With three premiership-winning coaches now out of the running, North Melbourne’s search has narrowed to first-time head coaches and one second-time option in Buckley. The Kangaroos’ preference for fresh leadership suggests a strategic shift away from experienced coaches, setting up a competitive process among emerging coaching talent.

FAQs

Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes.  Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.