Longmire, Simpson leave door ajar to approach for Demons coaching job, Buckley tempted

John Longmire and Adam Simpson, the two premiership coaches in the race for the Melbourne job, have the left the door open for an approach from the Demons to replace Simon Goodwin.

As Collingwood great Nathan Buckley said he would take a call from Melbourne president Brad Green, declaring the Demons are a compelling reason to consider a coaching return, Longmire and Simpson were less forthcoming in their interest for the vacant job but nor did they rule themselves out of the race like James Hird and Ken Hinkley.

The former North Melbourne premiership teammates said they had given the idea of returning to coaching little thought since leaving their respective posts at Sydney and West Coast last year.

Longmire has remained at the Swans working as the executive director of club performance at Sydney, a role he said he is enjoying, and taken a role in the media, while Simpson has been a revelation as an analyst for SEN and Fox Footy.

Longmire said he had enjoyed spending more time with his family while being away from the cut and thrust of coaching an AFL club.

“I hope you understand that I’m not being cagey about this,” Longmire told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 program, where he has a weekly segment. “I just haven’t allowed myself to think about it because I’ve had other thoughts going on and other things in my life that I’ve tried to be present with.

“I spent so many years thinking about what I needed to do, the next step, the next step, and the footy club, and I’ve just tried to be a bit more present this year, and what I’m actually doing with my family in particular.

“And at the moment, I’m loving what I’m doing, and I’m staying present in that now. If that changes, well, I need to have a think about it at some point, maybe. But at the moment, it hasn’t changed.”

Simpson said he was in a different phase to the untried coach who was desperately waiting for a club to invite them into the application process.

“I’m having a glass of red tonight when I get back to my hotel room, I’m meeting a few mates for lunch tomorrow,” Simpson said.

“Taking the phone call, that doesn’t mean anything.

“I’m not assuming I’m going to get a phone call, and Horse (Longmire) is not doing the same thing. And if it happens, then you go ‘OK, what’s really going on here?’

“So I suppose that’s starting to come into my mind, but it’s this much compared to what it would be for someone who’s desperate and ready to go. I suppose we’re just it’s a little bit early to go take a phone call or not. It’s not as black and white as you think.”

Buckley, the former Magpies coach (2012-21) who guided the club into the 2018 grand final, is keen to return to the senior ranks, having left the Magpies through the 2021 season.

While also on the radar of the fledging Tasmania Devils, who are slated to join the league in 2028, Buckley confirmed on Wednesday he would be interested in discussing Melbourne’s plans with club brass.

“I have spoken about my life and how I enjoy the balance I have at the moment. It would need to be something quite compelling to leave this. The Devils’ timeline was good because it was out there, it was on the horizon, this one is a little bit sharper, isn’t it?” Buckley told SEN on Wednesday.

“I would take the call and I would have the chat, but there still would have to be a lot that would have to fall into place for me to leave this position of comfort that I have discovered.”

He later added: “I think the Melbourne prospect is quite compelling. There is, obviously, a lot that needs to settle and evolve there, but big club, storied history, the experience in the playing group is unquestioned, and I like their young group of players as well. In that sense, there is a compelling case there in terms of opportunity, but there is plenty of water to go under the bridge.”

Meanwhile, Essendon great and former coach Hird ruled himself out.

“No, I think I have said previously, I am flattered someone would think about it, but no, that’s not something I would [consider],” Hird told Footy Classified on Tuesday night.

Hird, earlier this season, had denied suggestions he was interested in returning to Essendon as coach.

Buckley, 53, said his desire to coach again was real.

“It’s there, otherwise it would be an easy no. I can’t lie. When yesterday [Goodwin’s sacking] happened, I knew this would all come around again,” he said.

“Even in yourself, this brings the timeline forward again if you feel like there is a case, if you like the people, if you see the opportunity to make a change, make a difference, you have to work that out quick smart because the call, or I would expect, the call would come.”

Former Melbourne player Jordan Lewis, now a commentator at Fox Footy alongside Buckley, said Buckley would be his No.1 option to take charge of the Demons.

The Demons are still finalising their coaching subcommittee.

“When I went into coaching the first time, it was just a blind faith – this is my future, this is what I do, and this is the next challenge, the next mountain to climb,” Buckley said.

“If I went back into it, I wouldn’t be doing it the same way. It would be far more conscious, far more considered, it wouldn’t just be about where football sits in my life. It would be where football sits in amongst the rest of my life, which I never really had to, or did consider, before.”

Buckley said he agreed with Goodwin’s assertion on Tuesday that the Demons, sitting in 12th spot with only seven wins this season, could rise quicker than many expected.

“I think so. There are a lot of elements, and I think they showed in the last couple of months, when you play a more expansive brand of offence, you sort of open it up,” he said.

Port Adelaide coach Hinkley has all but ruled out pursuing a head coaching job next season, saying he won’t decide his future until Christmas.

Hinkley’s 13-year tenure as Port Adelaide head coach finishes in three weeks when he hands over to long-time assistant Josh Carr.

“I appreciate your question, but it’s not a today question,” Hinkley said on Wednesday when asked about his plans for next year.

“For me, I am going to take a moment to enjoy three more weeks.

“And then I am going to reset, refresh, do some things with my family, really enjoy things that I haven’t been able to enjoy for a little period of time and then think about what is next.

“I’m sorry, I am just not going to think about it today. I don’t think I am going to think about it before Christmas, I don’t think I am.”

Asked if he wanted a tilt at the Melbourne job, Hinkley replied: “No, I fancy a tilt at the next three weeks at Port Adelaide ... I am not going to get drawn into anything other than [that].”

With AAP

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.