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Whateley: The Demons coaching contender that has ruled themselves out
Nicholas Quinlan • August 9th, 2025 1:09 pm
SEN's Gerard Whateley has exclusively revealed that former Sydney coach John Longmire has ruled himself out of the vacant Melbourne coaching position.
Following Simon Goodwin’s sacking on Tuesday, John Longmire emerged as a potential candidate for the position.
The 2012 premiership coach who left the Sydney Swans at the start of the year believes that it is too soon for him to re-enter the coaching ranks.
Whateley also believes that Longmire has enjoyed his new role as the executive director of club performance at the club.
“John Longmire will not make a return to coaching in 2026,” Whateley said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“The Sydney premiership coach has decided it is simply too soon to contemplate a return to the coaching ranks, having been out of the job essentially for only eight months.
“Subsequent to his segment on 360 on Wednesday night, Longmire embarked on a little introspection, knowing he would be subject to the question until he reached an answer in his own mind.
“And understanding there would likely be an inquiry at some point from Melbourne, he wanted to have made a decision rather than stringing anyone along.
“And that decision is not to coach for the time being.
“Longmire spoke on 360 of the family time he’s enjoying out of the cauldron coaching, and I wouldn’t underestimate how much he’s enjoying the corporate work, how stimulating he finds the executive role in Sydney.
“So, on the coaching landscape, you can rule John Longmire out. He won’t be coaching in 2026.”
Longmire is the latest coach to rule himself out for the Melbourne job. On Friday, interim coach Troy Chaplin revealed that he, too, would not pursue the position.
“I have spoken to the club, and I won’t be pursuing the role, but I certainly have aspirations to be a senior coach one day,” he said.
“I went and spoke to them (the club) – history says caretaker coaches don’t get that role," Chaplin added.
“But they know I’m an aspiring head coach as well, so they gave me the opportunity to lead the program for the next three weeks.
Melbourne’s next match is against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday at the MCG.
