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John Longmire
John Longmire
John Longmire
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John Longmire (born 31 December 1970) is the former senior coach of the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 2011 to 2024. As a player, he represented the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1988 to 1999.[1]

Key Information

Early years

[edit]

Longmire was born in Corowa, New South Wales.[2] He took up Australian rules as a child and first came into notice when he won the 1984 Thirds goal kicking award in the Coreen & District Football League with Rutherglen.[3] He later moved to the Corowa-Rutherglen club, and in his first season of senior football career in New South Wales, he nearly won the Ovens & Murray Football League's leading goalkicker title in 1987 as a 16-year-old, kicking 82 goals. His ability and size quickly attracted the interest of the North Melbourne VFL club's talent scouts.

Longmire's grandfather is former Fitzroy Football Club player Keith Williams. His uncle, Robert Longmire, is a former Collingwood Football Club player. Walter Longmire (John Longmire’s great grandfather) represented New South Wales v South Australia at the MCG in 1927.[4]

Playing career

[edit]

North Melbourne

[edit]

Longmire's physique and size earned him the nickname "Horse". His first match for North Melbourne was in the infamous exhibition match between North Melbourne and Carlton at The Oval in London in 1987. His first regular season match for North Melbourne was in the 1988 season against Footscray with a four-goal performance, but he struggled after that and near the end of the season coach John Kennedy Sr. moved him to full-back. He did well in that role during the 1989 season, holding Tony Lockett to five kicks in Round 14, but North's lack of key position players in attack saw him moved back to the forward line in August.[2]

The 1990 season saw Longmire jump to the top of the tree: at only nineteen years of age, he kicked 98 goals and won the Coleman Medal as the league's leading goal kicker (and the youngest player to have done so).[1] In Round 2 of that year he kicked a North Melbourne record of twelve goals against Richmond, which he broke twelve weeks later when he kicked fourteen goals in round 14 against Melbourne. Going into the final round Longmire looked likely to reach the 100-goal milestone for the season, however inaccurate kicking against a strong Collingwood defence resulted in two goals and eight behinds, leaving him two goals short. Longmire won North Melbourne's best and fairest award that year and led the club's goal kicking list every season from 1990 to 1994.[2]

At North Melbourne, he formed a powerful goalkicking partnership with centre half-forward Wayne Carey. In six seasons between 1990 and 1995, Carey and Longmire collectively kicked 768 goals (of which Longmire contributed 464), and thirteen times they combined for ten goals or more in a game. Individually, Longmire kicked 5-plus goals in a game 36 times, 7-plus goals 18 times and 10-plus twice, before a serious knee injury forced him out of the game for the 1996 season.[1] When he returned the following year, he played out the remainder of his career in defence and in the ruck.[2]

Longmire missed out on playing on the winning side of the 1996 premiership with a knee injury and just made it back from an elbow injury to make his last career game the 1999 Grand Final, in which the Kangaroos defeated Carlton. This was his only year to also not score a goal, managing only to kick 1 point in 10 games.[1][2]

Longmire played a total of 200 games and kicked a total of 511 goals for North Melbourne from 1988 to 1999,[2] as well as being a member of the North Melbourne premiership side in 1999.[2]

Coaching career

[edit]

Sydney Swans

[edit]

Longmire returned to New South Wales to take up an assistant coaching position with the Sydney Swans in 2002.[1][5] In 2006, he was considered to be a front-runner for the St Kilda Football Club senior coaching role, which was made vacant by the sacking of Grant Thomas, however, the role later went to then-fellow Swans assistant coach Ross Lyon.[6] In 2008, senior coach Paul Roos, appointed Longmire the Swans' "coaching co-ordinator". In a succession plan, Longmire replaced Roos as senior coach of the Sydney Swans following Roos' retirement at the end of the 2010 season.[7][8]

Longmire's first game as the Sydney Swans senior coach in the 2011 season ended in a draw against Melbourne, with both teams scoring 11.18 (84).[9] His first win as senior coach came the next week, against Essendon in Round 2, 2011.[10] Longmire had a relatively good start to his coaching career, with only five losses in the first fourteen rounds of the season (albeit against top-four opposition in Geelong, Carlton (twice), Hawthorn and Collingwood).[11]

One of his best coaching achievements was engineering Sydney's upset 13-point victory over Geelong at Skilled Stadium in the penultimate round of the 2011 season. The Swans had not won there in more than 12 years and the home team had not lost at the ground in exactly four years and one day. Also, the Swans were the only team to beat top-four side West Coast at Patersons Stadium during the season. Those two sides won the rest of their home matches during the regular season.[11]

Longmire took Sydney to the finals in 2011, his first year as senior coach in what was the club's 13th finals appearance in 16 seasons. After beating St Kilda in the elimination finals at Etihad Stadium, the Swans were defeated by Hawthorn in the semi-finals ending what was otherwise a promising first season for Longmire in the top job.[11]

In the 2012 season in his second year as senior coach, Longmire led Sydney to third place on the AFL ladder, compiling a 16–6 record in the home-and-away season. Longmire then coached the Sydney Swans to a premiership victory over Hawthorn in the 2012 AFL Grand Final by a margin of 10 points with the final score being the Sydney Swans 14.7 (91) to Hawthorn 11.15 (81). Subsequently, his contract was extended until the end of the 2015 season.[12][13]

In March 2014, Longmire signed a two-year contract extension which took his tenure to the end of the 2017 AFL season.[14][15]

In the 2014 season, Longmire coached the Sydney Swans to the 2014 AFL Grand Final, but they lost to Hawthorn by a margin of 63 points with the final score being Sydney Swans 11.8 (74) to Hawthorn 21.11 (137).[16]

In the 2016 season, Longmire coached the Sydney Swans to the 2016 AFL Grand Final, but they lost to the Western Bulldogs by a margin of 22 points with the final score being Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) to Sydney Swans 10.7 (67).[17]

In round 4 of the 2019 AFL season, Longmire coached his 200th game, a career milestone. Three rounds later, he overtook Paul Roos as the longest serving coach of the club.[18]

On 12 July 2019, Longmire extended his contract for a further three years, to remain the Sydney Swans' senior coach until at least the end of 2023.[19]

In 2020, Longmire coached the All-Stars team in a one-off 2020 State of Origin match which was played on 28 February 2020 at Docklands Stadium.[20]

In the 2022 season, Longmire coached the Sydney Swans to the 2022 AFL Grand Final when they lost to Geelong by a margin of 81 points with Geelong scoring 20.13 (133) to the Sydney Swans 8.4 (52).[21][22]

On 2 March 2023, it was announced that Longmire had signed a two-year extension contract to remain the Sydney Swans senior coach until at least the end of 2025.[5]

In the 2024 season, Longmire coached the Sydney Swans to the 2024 AFL Grand Final, when they lost to Brisbane Lions by a margin of 60 points with Brisbane Lions scoring 18.12 (120) to the Sydney Swans 9.6 (60).[23][24]

John Longmire was described as a "shattered man" after the Grand Final.[25] Pundits noted his dejected state, calling him a "broken man." Longmire was visibly emotional, with tears welling in his eyes, even as other team members were discussing game strategy.[26]

The defeat marked the fourth successive Grand Final loss for Longmire. This was then compounded by having to conduct his post-match press conference while the victorious Brisbane Lions were celebrating.[27] Amidst uproarious revelry, Longmire struggled to hear the questions posed by journalists.[28] His own remarks were crowded out by joyous singing and the popping of champagne corks.[29] Such a thin wall separating the teams did little to ease Longmire's pain, and drew strong criticism from media.[28]

The loss, coupled with other factors like playing an injured player, provoked harsh appraisals of Longmire from fans and media.[30] Sydney leadership elected to stand him down from senior coaching. A falling out with former captain Luke Parker was cited as a major factor in Longmire's downfall.[31]

Longmire's official resignation as Sydney coach was lodged on 26 November 2024, with assistant Dean Cox taking over.[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]

Allegations of missing recordings

[edit]

Allegations that Longmire sought to destroy or "bury" Grand Final recordings from the Sydney coaches box, have continued to dog him after exiting Sydney.[44]

It emerged in June 2025 that an audio recording device from a microphone Longmire wore that day, was not returned to AFL officials as stipulated. Longmire is reported to have removed an “SD card” from the recording device.[45] The microphone was recording audio for AFL Media’s annual Sound The Alarm documentary. The long-running series utilizes audio recordings from both teams' coach's box on Grand Final day.[46]

Reporter Mitch Cleary stated that Longmire was paid a fee for agreeing to the arrangement.[47] This was the case with all previous coaches since the series began in 2019. In the case of Longmire, however, the audio never made it back to the producers.[44] This impasse continued despite repeated enquiries from league officials. Such intransigence has seen speculation Longmire could be barred, by the AFL executive, from any coaching return until the recordings are furnished. “Things were said in the box that he didn’t want other ears to hear” said Cleary of Longmire. Journalist Caroline Wilson said that "halfway through the first quarter" Longmire had become "panicked" and begun lashing out at others.[47]

Nick Riewoldt speculated the recordings could produce "reputational or brand damage" for Longmire.[47] He went on to say that there were "some things said about players" that "people don’t want to ever hear.”[45] According to Caroline Wilson, such public outrage and legal fallout could spell financial devastation for the embattled Longmire. Wilson suggested that Longmire's subsequent actions made perfect sense. She reasoned that “giving up the money" he was paid for allowing recording access, would be the "cheaper price” when compared to public disgrace.[47]

Longmire himself later confirmed these reports, but said his actions were spurred only by desire to avoid the "tough listening."[48]

“I’ve listened to all the grand finals I’ve been in" said Longmire, adding "I intended to do the same with this one.”[49] But after this, his fourth straight loss on the biggest stage, Longmire sought a different approach. "I just didn’t want to re-live it again" he admitted.[48]

Longmire defended his reluctance, saying “I'd done it before. I’d listened and tried to learn something out of those games before. I just didn’t want to do it again."[50]

When pressed on the AFL's legal ownership of the devices and recordings, the former Swans' coach reacted furiously.[48] An indignant Longmire suggested that the AFL had no rights to their own recordings, blatantly contravening a contract he himself had signed.[50] "My assumption was it was my IP" said Longmire, suggesting all attempts to acquire the audio would meet fierce opposition.[48]

Post-coaching career

[edit]

Officials for the Tasmanian expansion club have declined to procure the native Longmire, suggesting others like Nathan Buckley may be in a better position mentally.[51]

Melbourne Football Club did enquire, however, but were left unsatisfied after Longmire declined a psych test on privacy grounds.[52][53]

These developments came as Sydney Swans spokesperson Tom Chadwick expressed concern for Longmire's mental wellbeing. Chadwick pledged strong action, saying he would "work with the AFL to ensure coaches are looked after post grand final losses."[54] Longmire has himself spoken at length on the issue, publicly detailing his own experiences with mental health.[55] In a video message to supporters, Longmire stressed the need to "reframe the conversation about men’s depression."

Mental health advocacy

[edit]

Longmire was the first AFL personality to feature in the Better Out Than In initiative. The partnership, between Beyond Blue and the Movember Foundation, sought increased awareness of men's mental health.[56]

Longmire's early participation prompted a flood of stories from other AFL players and coaches. Like Longmire's, these video accounts were released publicly, on the Better Out Than In website. Longmire’s video was said to "reframe the conversation" removing "stigma and secrecy" from the hitherto taboo subject.[56]

Longmire has taken this advocacy directly to the AFL, strongly campaigning for more mental health professionals in competition.[55] He advocates that teams be permitted to pay their own club psychologists outside of the club's soft cap. Longmire says the policy is vital, less more players and coaches fall by the mental health wayside.[57] The case of St Kilda great Danny Frawley was given as one such instance of preventable inaction.[58]

Statistics

[edit]

Playing statistics

[edit]
[59]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  #  
 Played in that season's 
premiership team
  †  
 Led the league for 
the season
Led the league for the season only
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1988 North Melbourne 43 11 21 12 70 24 94 56 2 1.9 1.1 6.4 2.2 8.5 5.1 0.2 0
1989 North Melbourne 35 16 9 12 99 41 140 31 10 0.6 0.8 6.2 2.6 8.8 1.9 0.6 0
1990 North Melbourne 35 22 98† 60 230 61 291 139 10 4.5 2.7 10.5 2.8 13.2 6.3 0.5 9
1991 North Melbourne 35 21 91 54 199 61 260 128 12 4.4 2.6 9.5 2.9 12.4 6.1 0.6 8
1992 North Melbourne 35 20 64 37 164 50 214 90 10 3.2 1.9 8.2 2.5 10.7 4.5 0.5 0
1993 North Melbourne 35 20 75 29 151 59 210 81 9 3.8 1.5 7.6 3.0 10.5 4.1 0.5 4
1994 North Melbourne 35 23 78 46 170 86 256 120 13 3.4 2.9 7.4 3.7 11.1 5.2 0.6 8
1995 North Melbourne 35 22 58 32 157 78 235 94 10 2.6 1.5 7.1 3.5 10.7 4.3 0.5 0
1996 North Melbourne 35 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1997 North Melbourne 35 25 10 11 196 104 300 96 33 0.4 0.4 7.8 4.2 12.0 3.8 1.3 3
1998 North Melbourne 35 10 7 4 50 35 85 28 4 0.7 0.4 5.0 3.5 8.5 2.8 0.4 1
1999# North Melbourne 35 10 0 1 53 38 91 24 8 0.0 0.1 5.7 3.8 9.9 2.4 0.8 0
Career 200 511 298 1539 637 2177 887 121 2.4 1.5 7.7 3.2 10.9 4.4 0.6 33

Coaching statistics

[edit]

Updated to the end of the 2024 season.[60]

Team Year Home and Away Season Finals
Won Lost Drew Win % Position Won Lost Win % Result
SYD 2011 12 9 1 .546 7th out of 17 1 1 .500 Lost to Hawthorn in Semi Final
SYD 2012 16 6 0 .727 3rd out of 18 3 0 1.000 Defeated Hawthorn in Grand Final
SYD 2013 15 6 1 .682 4th out of 18 1 2 .332 Lost to Fremantle in Preliminary Final
SYD 2014 17 5 0 .773 1st out of 18 2 1 .667 Lost to Hawthorn in Grand Final
SYD 2015 16 6 0 .727 4th out of 18 0 2 .000 Lost to North Melbourne in Semi Final
SYD 2016 17 5 0 .773 1st out of 18 2 2 .500 Lost to Western Bulldogs in Grand Final
SYD 2017 14 8 0 .636 6th out of 18 1 1 .500 Lost to Geelong in Semi Final
SYD 2018 14 8 0 .636 6th out of 18 0 1 .000 Lost to GWS in Elimination Final
SYD 2019 8 14 0 .364 15th out of 18 - - - -
SYD 2020 5 12 0 .294 16th out of 18 - - - -
SYD 2021 15 7 0 .682 6th out of 18 0 1 .000 Lost to GWS in Elimination Final
SYD 2022 16 6 0 .727 2nd out of 18 2 1 .667 Lost to Geelong in Grand Final
SYD 2023 12 10 1 .522 8th out of 18 0 1 .000 Lost to Carlton in Elimination Final
SYD 2024 17 6 0 .739 1st out of 18 2 1 .667 Lost to Brisbane in Grand Final
Total 194 108 3 .562 14 14 .500

Honours and achievements

[edit]

Playing honours

[edit]

Team

Individual

Coaching honours

[edit]

Team

Individual

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

John Longmire

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
John Longmire (born 31 December 1970) is an Australian rules footballer and coach, renowned for his distinguished playing career with North Melbourne and his successful tenure as senior coach of the Sydney Swans, where he led the club to a premiership in 2012. Born in Corowa, New South Wales, Longmire grew up on a family grain farm and came from a footballing lineage, with his grandfather Keith Williams playing for Fitzroy and uncle Robert Longmire for Collingwood. Recruited from the Corowa-Rutherglen club, he debuted for North Melbourne in Round 4 of the 1988 season at age 17, standing at 194 cm tall. Over 200 games and 511 goals from 1988 to 1999, he established himself as one of the league's premier forwards, leading North Melbourne's goalkicking from 1990 to 1994 and earning All-Australian selection in 1990. That year, at just 19, he won the Coleman Medal as the competition's leading goalkicker, became the youngest player to kick 10 goals in a match, and claimed North Melbourne's best and fairest award while breaking the club's single-game goalkicking record with 14.2 against Melbourne. Despite missing the 1996 premiership due to a knee reconstruction, Longmire contributed to North Melbourne's 1999 flag in his final game and also secured a pre-season premiership in 1998. After retiring, Longmire transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant at the from 2002 under and Paul Roos, while also holding roles as vice-president of the AFL Players' Association and head of the AFL division at IMG. Appointed senior coach of the Swans in 2010 ahead of the 2011 season, he oversaw 333 games until stepping down in 2024, achieving 208 wins for a 62.91% success rate. His tenure included 12 appearances, six top-four finishes, and five berths, culminating in the 2012 premiership victory over Hawthorn by 10 points. Longmire's coaching philosophy emphasized player relationships and relentless improvement, influenced by his own career setbacks, and he became the longest-serving coach in Swans history. Following his resignation after a 60-point loss in the 2024 to , he transitioned to the role of of club performance at the Swans, a position he held into 2025, where he ruled himself out of contention for the coaching vacancy in August of that year.

Early life

Family and background

John Longmire was born on 31 December 1970 in , , a rural town on the bordering Victoria. He grew up on the family's 920-hectare grain farm just outside Corowa, where he developed an early connection to the land and community that would influence his grounded approach to life and sport. Longmire's family had deep roots in Australian rules football, spanning multiple generations. His uncle, Robert Longmire, played two games for Collingwood in the (VFL) in 1964. On his mother's side, his grandfather Keith Williams represented Fitzroy in 1948, playing five senior games. His father, Fred Longmire, was not a professional player but later served as of , elected in September 2010, reflecting the family's civic involvement in the region. These familial ties provided Longmire with initial exposure to the sport from a young age, fostering his passion amid the rural lifestyle. Details on Longmire's formal education are sparse, but he attended school in the community, where he was later honored for his achievements. His non-football upbringing emphasized farm work and local values, with limited urban influences until his to professional ranks. This foundation in country life shaped his early before he transitioned to structured junior football.

Junior football career

Longmire's introduction to competitive came in his hometown of , , where he was born on 31 December 1970 and raised on a family farm at nearby Balldale. Influenced by a strong family football heritage—his father Fred was a local stalwart, his uncle played two VFL games for Collingwood in 1964, and his grandfather Keith appeared for Fitzroy in 1948—Longmire took up the sport as a and quickly showed prodigious talent. At just 13 years old in 1984, Longmire won the Thirds goal-kicking award while playing for Corowa-Rutherglen in the Coreen & District Football League, marking his emergence as a natural goal-scorer. He progressed through the club's junior ranks and made his senior debut for Corowa-Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray Football League at age 16 in 1987, where he excelled as a key-position forward, booting 82 goals in an outstanding season that highlighted his athleticism, marking ability, and finishing prowess. This performance earned him the league's award, the Morris Medal, and drew widespread attention for his potential as a dominant tall forward. Longmire's junior representative honors included selection for the Under-12s team, where he played alongside future AFL star , further showcasing his skills on a broader stage. His rapid development and standout displays led to early scouting interest from VFL clubs; although zoned to the , North Melbourne recruiters Greg Miller and Ron Joseph secured his services at age 16 through a deal that included providing him with a , recognizing him as a rare key-position talent from country football.

Playing career

Selection and debut

John Longmire was recruited by in 1987 after the club paid a transfer fee of $60,000 to the , to whom he was zoned as a promising junior from . At just 16 years old, Longmire had impressed in local football, including a standout performance at a national carnival where he starred as a key forward. This recruitment allowed to secure the teenage talent ahead of the formal draft process, positioning him as a developmental prospect for the . Longmire made his first appearance for in a pre-season exhibition match against Carlton at in in late 1987, known as the "Battle of Britain," where the game descended into chaos with multiple fights and ejections. He then debuted in the regular season on April 23, 1988, at age 17 years and 114 days, against Footscray in Round 4, kicking four goals from 10 kicks and seven marks in a promising display from full-forward. Assigned an initial role as a developing tall forward, Longmire showed early potential with his marking and goal sense, contributing 21 goals in 11 games for the 1988 season despite the team's overall struggles. Adapting to the physicality and pace of senior VFL football presented challenges for the young Longmire, who experienced inconsistency after his strong debut and was occasionally omitted from the senior side toward the end of 1988. In 1989, his output dipped to nine goals in 16 games, reflecting the typical hurdles for a teenager transitioning from junior ranks, including refining his body work and endurance against established defenders. Although no major injuries marred his immediate early years, these adjustment periods tested his resilience, laying the groundwork for his emergence as a prolific goal-kicker. Key moments, such as his four-goal haul on debut, highlighted his innate talent and foreshadowed his future impact as North Melbourne's leading forward.

North Melbourne tenure

Longmire's tenure at spanned from 1988 to 1999, during which he played 200 games and kicked 511 goals, establishing himself as one of the club's most prolific forwards. Initially challenged by the physical demands of senior football following his early debut, he quickly developed into a dominant key-position player, leveraging his height and marking ability to become a cornerstone of the team's forward line. His emergence as a star forward peaked in 1990, when, at just 19 years old, he won the as the league's leading goalkicker with 98 goals, the youngest recipient of the award in VFL/AFL history. Longmire led North Melbourne's goalkicking tally from 1990 to 1994, forming a potent partnership with teammates like and consistently threatening opposition defenses with his aerial prowess and goal sense. This period marked his transition from promising talent to elite performer, contributing significantly to the club's competitive resurgence in the early 1990s. Longmire missed North Melbourne's 1996 premiership success due to a pre-season knee injury requiring reconstruction, which sidelined him for the entire season and the Grand Final against , which the won by 37 points. He returned in 1997 and remained a key contributor through the 1998 and 1999 seasons, culminating in the 1999 premiership where he featured in the Grand Final victory over Carlton—his 200th and final game—despite limited disposals, with three handballs and five hit-outs. Persistent injuries plagued the later stages of his career, including a issue and an elbow problem in 1999 that limited his preparation for , ultimately leading to his at age 28 after the premiership triumph. These setbacks prompted early considerations of his post-playing transition, though he departed the game as a dual premiership player and club icon.

Coaching career

Assistant coaching roles

Following his retirement from playing in 1999 due to persistent knee injuries, John Longmire served as vice-president of the AFL Players' Association and head of the AFL division at IMG from 1999 to 2001, before transitioning into to remain involved in the sport he loved. Longmire began his formal career at the end of 2001 as an assistant coach with the under senior coach , a role he continued after Paul Roos replaced Eade at the end of the 2002 season. In this position, he focused primarily on the forward line and ruck division, emphasizing player development and tactical strategies to improve scoring efficiency and contest work. Over the next nine years, Longmire worked closely with Roos, contributing to the Swans' shift toward a more contested and pressure-based style of play that laid the foundation for their 2005 and 2012 premiership successes. His time as an assistant honed Longmire's expertise in game planning and mentoring young talent, drawing from his own experiences as a key forward to guide players on positioning and decision-making under pressure. Longmire credited the mentorship under Roos for teaching him the importance of building a sustainable club culture and adapting to evolving game demands, lessons that emphasized resilience and long-term development over short-term results. This preparatory phase solidified his reputation as a thoughtful coach ready for senior responsibilities.

Sydney Swans senior coach

John Longmire was appointed as the senior coach of the in August 2009, succeeding Paul Roos for the 2011 season after serving as an assistant coach under Roos since 2003. His tenure, which drew on his prior assistant roles in developing the club's forward line and overall strategy, lasted 14 seasons through 2024. Longmire coached the Swans in 333 games, achieving 208 wins, 3 draws, and 122 losses for a 62.9% win rate, making him the club's longest-serving and most successful senior coach by victories. Under his leadership, the team emphasized a high-pressure defensive style combined with efficient ball movement, which propelled consistent on-field performance and multiple deep runs. The pinnacle of Longmire's coaching career came in 2012, when the Swans won the AFL premiership with a 10-point victory over Hawthorn in the Grand Final at the , attended by 99,683 fans; Sydney scored 14.7 (91) to Hawthorn's 11.15 (81), with key contributions from players like , who earned the . This triumph marked the club's fifth premiership and earned Longmire the AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year award. Longmire's Swans qualified for finals in 11 of his 14 seasons, including 10 campaigns with 14 or more home-and-away wins, establishing one of the era's most reliable contenders. The team recorded notable winning streaks, such as 12 consecutive victories from rounds 5 to 17 in 2014 and 16 wins in 17 games following a round 1 loss in 2016, underscoring periods of dominant form. These efforts led to five appearances (2012, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2024), though only the 2012 win succeeded, with the others resulting in losses, including a 60-point defeat to in 2024. On 25 November 2024, Longmire announced his resignation as senior coach, effective immediately after the 2024 season, citing a desire to transition leadership while the club remained competitive. He was succeeded by long-time assistant , who had been groomed as his potential replacement.

Post-coaching career

Executive positions

Following his resignation as senior coach of the in November 2024, John Longmire transitioned into an executive role with the club, appointed as of Club Performance in December 2024. In this position, Longmire focuses on strategic planning to elevate the club's overall performance, including the development and implementation of best practices in player welfare, coaching development, and football operations. His responsibilities encompass overseeing high-level club initiatives aimed at fostering long-term success and operational excellence across the organization. Throughout 2025, Longmire engaged in discussions about potential coaching opportunities but ultimately ruled himself out of contention for the Melbourne Demons' head coaching role in August 2025, reaffirming his commitment to his executive duties at the Swans. No additional executive or advisory positions in AFL circles have been reported for him beyond this role as of late 2025.

Advocacy and other activities

Following his departure from coaching, John Longmire has become an advocate for in sport, drawing on his personal experiences with the intense stress of post-match analysis and leadership pressures. In a 2025 interview, he described his "7 out of 10 leadership rule," emphasizing that effective leaders, including coaches, typically get about 70% of decisions right amid relentless scrutiny, which helps mitigate the mental toll of high-stakes environments like AFL coaching. This perspective stems from his own career challenges, where the pressure of evaluating performances after losses contributed to significant emotional strain. Earlier, in 2016, Longmire shared his encounters with mental illness to support the AFL Players' Association's "" campaign, an online platform aimed at encouraging players to discuss openly. He has also pushed for structural changes, such as allowing clubs to fund psychologists outside the AFL's soft to better address players' needs without financial constraints. Longmire has extended his influence through public speaking on and , represented by agencies such as Bravo Management and Celebrity Speakers. These engagements focus on themes like building team culture, strategic , and resilience under pressure, often tailored for corporate and sporting audiences. In 2020, Longmire coached the All Stars team in a bushfire relief match against Victoria at Marvel Stadium, expressing enthusiasm for contributing to the cause while leading a squad of Indigenous and multicultural players. More recently, in June 2025, allegations surfaced regarding missing audio recordings from the 2024 , where Longmire was mic'd up in the coaches' box during Sydney's loss to . Reports indicated he did not return the to the AFL, sparking speculation about sensitive discussions during the heavy defeat, though Longmire responded that he assumed the recording was his intellectual property and had no intent to withhold it. Longmire has made several media appearances discussing potential coaching comebacks, including an August 2025 interview on AFL 360 where host pressed him on interest in the Demons role following Simon Goodwin's sacking. During the tense exchange, Longmire remained non-committal about returning to senior , highlighting his current focus on advisory work while acknowledging of competitive environments.

Statistics

Playing statistics

John Longmire played 200 games and kicked 511 goals for between 1988 and 1999. His career featured strong seasonal performances as a key forward, with a peak in when he played 22 games and booted 98 goals, leading the league and earning the as the competition's top goalkicker. In 1991, he followed with 21 games and 91 goals, ranking third in the league, while 1994 saw 23 games and 78 goals, placing fifth overall. These seasons underscored his reliability, averaging over 3 goals per game in his prime years despite occasional injuries, such as missing the entire 1996 season. Longmire's goal-kicking prowess included holding third place on North Melbourne's all-time goalkicking list, behind only and , and he led the club's goalkicking from to 1994. His career efficiency as a full-forward was notable, with an overall goals-per-game average of 2.56, though this dipped in later years due to positional shifts and injuries; for instance, in 1997 he played a career-high 25 games but managed only 10 goals while contributing in other roles. In , Longmire appeared in 11 games, kicking 15 goals at an average of 1.36 per match, reflecting a more conservative output in high-stakes games compared to his home-and-away dominance. This included contributions across multiple campaigns, such as three goals in the 1999 Grand Final win that capped his playing career.
YearGamesGoals
19881121
1989169
19902298
19912191
19922064
19932075
19942378
19952258
199600
19972510
1998107
1999100
Career total200511

Coaching statistics

John Longmire coached the for 14 seasons from 2011 to 2024, overseeing 333 games with an overall record of 208 wins, 3 draws, and 122 losses, yielding a win percentage of 62.9%. This tenure established him as the longest-serving coach in Swans history and one of the most successful in the AFL era, with consistent appearances in 12 of 14 seasons. His seasonal records reflect a pattern of strong contention interspersed with rebuilding phases, highlighted by the 2012 premiership-winning campaign where the Swans achieved 19 wins and 6 losses across 25 games, culminating in a victory. Other notable seasons include 2014, with 19 wins and 6 losses, and 2024, finishing with 19 wins and 7 losses en route to a appearance. Lower points came in 2019 (8-14) and 2020 (5-12), amid injuries and transitional challenges, but Longmire's teams rebounded strongly in subsequent years.
YearGamesWinsLossesDrawsWin %Finish
2011241310156.25Semi-finalist
201225196076.00Premiers
201325168166.00Preliminary finalist
201425196076.00Runners-up
201524168066.67Qualifying finalist
201626197073.08Runners-up
201724159062.50Elimination finalist
201823149060.87Elimination finalist
201922814036.36-
202017512029.41-
202123158065.22Elimination finalist
202225187072.00Runners-up
2023241211152.08Elimination finalist
202426197073.08Runners-up
Key milestones in Longmire's record include a club-record-equalling 12-game in 2014, spanning rounds 5 to 16 and propelling the Swans to the minor premiership. He also reached 300 games coached in 2023, becoming only the 25th AFL coach to do so. Prior assistant roles from to 2010 provided foundational experience but lacked quantifiable head coaching metrics for direct comparison.

Honours and achievements

As a player

Longmire's playing career with was marked by several individual accolades and team successes, particularly as a prolific full-forward. In 1990, at the age of 19, he became the youngest-ever recipient of the , awarded to the AFL's leading goalkicker for the home-and-away season, after booting 98 goals in 23 games. This performance also earned him the as 's best and fairest player for the year, recognizing his overall impact on the team. Additionally, his standout season led to selection in the 1990 , highlighting his status among the league's elite performers. Longmire continued to excel as a goalkicker, topping North Melbourne's season tally from 1990 to 1994, which underscored his consistency and value to the club's forward line. His career totals of 511 goals in 200 games provided crucial support for these honors, establishing him as one of the Kangaroos' most reliable scorers during the 1990s. On the team front, Longmire contributed to North Melbourne's 1999 AFL premiership victory over Carlton in the Grand Final, marking a fitting end to his playing days in his 200th and final match. He also played a key role in the club's 1998 pre-season premiership. Although limited by injuries throughout his career—including missing the 1996 premiership due to a knee issue—he played off the bench in the 1999 decider, adding to the club's third flag in the AFL era.

As a coach

Longmire's most notable achievement as a coach came in , when he led the to their fifth AFL premiership, defeating Hawthorn by 10 points in the Grand Final during his second season in charge. This victory marked the Swans' first flag since 2005 and solidified Longmire's reputation as a capable senior coach after succeeding premiership mentor Paul Roos. Under his leadership, the team demonstrated resilience, finishing third on the ladder with 16 wins from 22 games before advancing through . Longmire guided the Swans to multiple top finishes, including minor premierships in 2014, 2016, and 2024, as well as a third-place ladder position in 2012 and fourth in 2013. In 2014, the team topped the ladder with a 17-5 record and 142.9% percentage, reaching the but falling to Hawthorn by 63 points. The 2016 season saw another minor premiership with 16 wins and 145.1% percentage, culminating in a loss to the . These consistent high rankings contributed to 12 finals appearances across his 14-year tenure, with only two seasons missing the playoffs. For his success, Longmire earned the AFL Coaches Association's Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year award in both 2012 and 2014, voted by his peers. The 2012 honor recognized his rapid elevation of the Swans to premiership contenders, while the 2014 award highlighted their dominant home-and-away campaign. These accolades underscored his strategic acumen and ability to build sustained contention. Longmire's coaching record includes 208 wins from 333 games, yielding a 62.91% win percentage that ranks fifth among coaches with 150 or more games in VFL/AFL history. As the longest-serving coach in Swans history, he amassed the most games coached for the club at 333, establishing benchmarks for consistency and finals participation.

References

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