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FWC: USA vs BEL live on SN ExtraBombers will contact Longmire amid “dreadful situation”
SEN • July 7th, 2026 9:49 am
Essendon will make contact with John Longmire as the search for a new senior coach ramps up.
Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson says the Sydney Swans premiership coach will be one of at least 10 coaches the Bombers will speak with in the coming weeks.
The Longmire chat is set to come after current interim Dean Solomon and former Dons coach and captain James Hird expressed their desire for the job which was vacated by Brad Scott in May.
“We know that they’re going to start interviews next week, over the next two weeks,” Wilson said on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters.
“There are at least 10 more candidates that are going to be contacted this week.
“My understanding is John Longmire is among them. People might have their views about John Longmire in his last year or two at Sydney when he maybe needed a break.
“But I just can’t buy that you would put Dean Solomon, or James Hird for that matter, ahead of John Longmire. Quite apart from people like James Rahilly, James Kelly, Brendon Lade and all the other names.”
The situation with so many ‘old Essendon’ heads around reminds Craig Hutchison of Hawthorn back in 2004 when the presence of some Hawks greats did not derail the coaching panel’s thinking.
In the end they hired Alastair Clarkson and the rest is history.
“It reminds me a little bit of the Hawthorn moment when they had Rodney Eade and Terry Wallace, and this pressure at ‘old Hawthorn’,” said Hutchison.
“Jason Dunstall was strong enough to go and pick an untried coach in Alastair Clarkson and live with it.
“I wouldn’t underestimate Andrew Welsh in this. He’ll pick the best coach.”
Wilson added: “Eade and Wallace had taken clubs to either a Grand Final or preliminary final.
“With respect to Dean Solomon he’s nowhere near that, nor is James Hird.
“I think there’s a lot of noise and the reality is very different.”
Wilson then wondered if all these past Dons are creating a lot of unwanted noise which could force some players out as the club's woes continue.
“Is anyone getting a little bit tired of all the ambassadors?,” she added.
“Mark Harvey is a club ambassador, Kevin Sheedy is a club ambassador, Dean Solomon is more than an ambassador - he has come in and wants to get his hands dirty.
“They’re not selling the club well and the players aren’t buying it. Clearly they’re going to lose players this year.
“It’s a dreadful situation.”
Agenda Setters panellists Kane Cornes and Tom Morris then discussed the impending coaching decision after highlighting some deficiencies in their game during the loss to St Kilda on Sunday.
Cornes: “No coach right now is going to be able to solve these issues that we’re seeing week after week.”
Morris: "Is it best for Dean Solomon if he doesn't go for this job?"
Cornes: "It's best for the club to make a hard call and say no to Hird and say no to Solomon, we're picking the best coach.
“And nothing you will say will change my mind on that.”
Hutchinson added: “I agree with that.”
