John Longmire/Coaching Change?

[stellation]

Breaking news on the radio just now that John is set to have a press conference later today to announce he's stepping down as coach. I hope all is okay.

[stellation]

Article just posted on the Herald suggesting as much, apparently the presser is at 1:30 this afternoon.

[imuninformedtwo]

All I know is I feel a bit sad.

It was obvious he had three choices at the end of the year - retire, see out last year of contract, or seek out an extension. But it was all contingent on whether or not he felt he had more in the tank, or it had ground him down. Looks like the latter.

I personally love Horse. He's a great footy person and the fact is he's delivered us great success - including a flag.

I get his decision, but I'm still a bit devastated.

[Dow]

Strange timing, a top coach wish we had a few more flags for him - thanks for the memories and good,luck

[Jimitron5000]

He's a good man and needs to do the right thing by himself and his family.
Whatever it is, he's a great of the club.

[mcs]

All I hope is that there is no health related element to it - it has been strange just how absent he has been from everything club wise over the last month or two. Despite it not going right on the final day of the season on several occasions, there is no doubt about the champion that John Longmire is in so many ways.I hope its simply a decision driven by a feeling of having no more to give, or a want from the club for a fresh start, and it isn't that there are also health issues.

As a person, there are few involved in the game at any level we should admire more than John Longmire - the bloke is a champ off the field, and has been a damn fine coach. Its a shame there isn't the 2,3 or 4 flags there that he deserves - but he has still been an absolutely outstanding contributor to our footy club, and to shaping the lives of every young man (and I'm sure the women too in an indirect way) for the positive over the past couple of decades.

[stellation]

All I know is I feel a bit sad.

It was obvious he had three choices at the end of the year - retire, see out last year of contract, or seek out an extension. But it was all contingent on whether or not he felt he had more in the tank, or it had ground him down. Looks like the latter.

I personally love Horse. He's a great footy person and the fact is he's delivered us great success - including a flag.

I get his decision, but I'm still a bit devastated.

Well said. I do find myself feeling a little down, I'm very fond of Horse.

[Roadrunner]

Well said. I do find myself feeling a little down, I'm very fond of Horse.

He is a great bloke and has been a fantastic coach of our club- Red and White through and through. He looked absolutely shattered after the GF and I thought once the emotions subsided a bit, he would resign as he has given his all. A true Legend of our great club- wish you all the very best John!

[Blood Fever]

All I hope is that there is no health related element to it - it has been strange just how absent he has been from everything club wise over the last month or two. Despite it not going right on the final day of the season on several occasions, there is no doubt about the champion that John Longmire is in so many ways. I hope its simply a decision driven by a feeling of having no more to give, or a want from the club for a fresh start, and it isn't that there are also health issues. As a person, there are few involved in the game at any level we should admire more than John Longmire - the bloke is a champ off the field, and has been a damn fine coach. Its a shame there isn't the 2,3 or 4 flags there that he deserves - but he has still been an absolutely outstanding contributor to our footy club, and to shaping the lives of every young man (and I'm sure the women too in an indirect way) for the positive over the past couple of decades.

Echo your thoughts. A person of great character. Good luck to him. Hard to imagine club without his great leadership.

[royboy42]

It’s about the appropriate time for the decision. Logical transition to Cox, who I’m sure has fresh ideas. Kudos to John. A great coaching career with just those GF collapses marring it. Hard to be marked on three matches, but I guess that’s the life of an AFL coach. Thank you, John. Some awesome memories, and for 2012.

[Sandridge]

All I hope is that there is no health related element to it - it has been strange just how absent he has been from everything club wise over the last month or two. Despite it not going right on the final day of the season on several occasions, there is no doubt about the champion that John Longmire is in so many ways. I hope its simply a decision driven by a feeling of having no more to give, or a want from the club for a fresh start, and it isn't that there are also health issues. As a person, there are few involved in the game at any level we should admire more than John Longmire - the bloke is a champ off the field, and has been a damn fine coach. Its a shame there isn't the 2,3 or 4 flags there that he deserves - but he has still been an absolutely outstanding contributor to our footy club, and to shaping the lives of every young man (and I'm sure the women too in an indirect way) for the positive over the past couple of decades.

Beautifully put, mcs! Horse has been magnificent for our club and it's a great shame to see that he's leaving. A fantastic coach and a fantastic bloke! Good luck, Horse, with whatever comes next for you. Thanks for everything!

[dejavoodoo44]

All I hope is that there is no health related element to it - it has been strange just how absent he has been from everything club wise over the last month or two. Despite it not going right on the final day of the season on several occasions, there is no doubt about the champion that John Longmire is in so many ways. I hope its simply a decision driven by a feeling of having no more to give, or a want from the club for a fresh start, and it isn't that there are also health issues. As a person, there are few involved in the game at any level we should admire more than John Longmire - the bloke is a champ off the field, and has been a damn fine coach. Its a shame there isn't the 2,3 or 4 flags there that he deserves - but he has still been an absolutely outstanding contributor to our footy club, and to shaping the lives of every young man (and I'm sure the women too in an indirect way) for the positive over the past couple of decades.

I didn't really think that there might be a health element until you mentioned it. I just assumed that he'd been given to the start of the preseason, to see if he really had it in him to go around again. Hopefully the latter is the case.

Conjecture aside, he really has been an excellent coach for the club. He has always seemed to have been highly respected, by pretty well everyone he has dealt with on a regular basis: players, staff and the wider AFL industry. And he must have been doing something right, to have lasted so long in such an intensely demanding and highly scrutinised role. With his 333 games coached, there's only 21 others who have coached more, and his 208 wins have him 16th on the all time list. And of course, he holds the Swans record for most games coached and wins.

So, it's a bit of a shame to see him go, but I suspect that he might enjoy putting his feet up for a while.

[stevoswan]

Very sad news but probably the right move. I believe it's time for change after four failed GF's (one a crime against the Swans) and I hope the motive is just that and not something more sinister like his health.

I love Horse and thank him for his service.....he's a Swans legend. We fans, the club and especially the players have been lucky to have him. He's like a father figure to the young recruits who end up far from home. A champion caring bloke who has put his players mental health probably ahead of his own.

Now some won't like this next bit....but we don't live in a fantasy land (do we?).....there will be some on here who will be celebrating this news but may turn up with faux sadness and concern.....but we'll all know who they are.

Will they be so naive?

[mcs]

Beautifully put, mcs! Horse has been magnificent for our club and it's a great shame to see that he's leaving. A fantastic coach and a fantastic bloke! Good luck, Horse, with whatever comes next for you. Thanks for everything!

I've heard he has wanted to spend more time on the farm (no pun intended there!) - so I suspect it is out for a spell on the farm for the Horse, but surely someone like Tassie will be throwing big interest his way when the time comes. Wouldn't surprise me if he walks away from the game completely however - been involved in coaching for 2 decades, on top of his playing career as well. Might well see that as enough, and ready to move on to another phase of life.

I didn't really think that there might be a health element until you mentioned it. I just assumed that he'd been given to the start of the preseason, to see if he really had it in him to go around again. Hopefully the latter is the case.

Conjecture aside, he really has been an excellent coach for the club. He has always seemed to have been highly respected, by pretty well everyone he has dealt with on a regular basis: players, staff and the wider AFL industry. And he must have been doing something right, to have lasted so long in such an intensely demanding and highly scrutinised role. With his 333 games coached, there's only 21 others who have coached more, and his 208 wins have him 16th on the all time list. And of course, he holds the Swans record for most games coached and wins.

So, it's a bit of a shame to see him go, but I suspect that he might enjoy putting his feet up for a while.

The only reason I suggested it was because he has been so absent over the past several weeks, which was so unlike him - even after the last bad losses. But equally - I suspect the much more likely answer is that they made a mutual decision several weeks back - and that they wanted to give Cox the space to shape the decisions at the draft etc. It wasn't meant to be rumour or anything else - just a passing thought, and a sincere hope health has not had anything to do with the decision.

There are few people going in the game that are as respected as Longmire - and with good reason. It has never been about him - ever. He leaves our club in a position of being a genuine powerhouse of the competition - the envy of most clubs. Yes he hasn't got the flags we had hoped for, but on every other metric - he leaves the club in a fantastic position in so, so many ways.

[mcs]

Now some won't like this next bit....but we don't live in a fantasy land (do we?).....there will be some on here who will be celebrating this news but may turn up with faux sadness and concern.....but we'll all know who they are.

Will they be so naive?

You are better then that Stevo. Leave the witch hunt for another day please.