Melbourne’s first phone call must be to this man, ex-coach says

Melbourne’s first inclination will be to look to an experienced coach to replace Simon Goodwin, and former Demons coach Paul Roos has urged the club to start their search with John Longmire.

President Brad Green, his successor Steven Smith, new chief executive Paul Guerra and football boss Alan Richardson were expected to feature on a subcommittee to find the new coach, said a source familiar with the board’s attitude and discussions.

The strong field of available experienced coaches means the Demons’ hunt will focus first on those seasoned candidates.

By pulling the pin on Goodwin this week, the Demons can now openly approach candidates but, according to the source, the timing of the decision was not driven by the situation at Carlton, where coach Michael Voss is no certainty to remain next year.

Premiership coaches Longmire and Adam Simpson, Nathan Buckley, Ken Hinkley and Essendon great James Hird are all likely to be sounded out or discussed in the coming weeks. Collingwood assistant Hayden Skipworth, Geelong assistant Steven King and Essendon’s Daniel Giansiracusa are among the bevy of untried coaches the Dees could consider.

Longmire sensationally quit in November, just weeks after another heavy grand final defeat, to re-energise after 14 years in the top job at Sydney.

He led the Swans to premiership glory in his second season in 2012, and while the club was a perennial finalist throughout his tenure, grand final defeats in 2014, 2016, 2022 and last year, three of them by hefty margins, hit hard.

Roos, the former Sydney and Melbourne coach who played key roles in orchestrating the coaching handovers to Longmire in 2011 and then Goodwin for 2017, said the Demons should sound out Longmire immediately.

“First call is John Longmire,” Roos said on Tuesday. “If I’m running the footy club, I’m making that call tomorrow morning.

“They’ve had a premiership coach who’s left, and they need to replace him with a very, very good coach. You need to go to the top of the tree and work your way down.”

Longmire has spent this year working as the executive director of club performance at Sydney, a role a Swans insider says he is heavily invested in, and fulfilling media commitments with Fox Footy.

Simpson has also worked in the media this year, impressing with his match analysis with Fox and SEN. West Coast’s 2018 premiership coach, Simpson was ousted by the Eagles late last season amid a hellish final three seasons that yielded finishes of 17th, last and 16th.

Buckley, who has expressed an interest in coaching the league’s newest club, the Tasmania Devils, has not coached since finishing with Collingwood midway through 2021.

Though not a premiership coach, he came within a kick of the flag in 2018 and led the Pies to finals in five of his 10 seasons at the helm.

Port Adelaide coach Hinkley is in the final weeks of his tenure at Port before handing over to Josh Carr after 13 years. Hinkley has taken Port to four preliminary finals without getting to the last day.

Hird, who resigned as Essendon coach in 2015 after the Bombers’ results plummeted in the fallout from the club’s protracted drugs scandal, returned to football this year as the director of coaching with VFL club Port Melbourne. Here is a list of contenders that their coaching subcommittee may consider.

Nathan Buckley

Collingwood coach 2012-21
117 wins, 99 losses, two draws
The man who guided the Magpies into the 2018 grand final – but departed through the 2021 season – is rested and ready to return to a senior role. Now a prominent commentator, Buckley’s mind remains sharp, and he has been sounded out by the new Tasmanian club. He will have learnt tremendously from his time at the Magpies. Former Demon Jordan Lewis says Buckley, 53, should be the Demons’ No.1 candidate.

John Longmire

Sydney coach 2011-24
207 wins, 122 losses, three draws
Made the call to step down at Sydney after last year’s losing grand final. While he tasted the ultimate success in 2012, the Swans lost four grand finals under the former North Melbourne forward. The 54-year-old remains with the Swans as executive director of club performance. It’s unclear if he is prepared to move back to Melbourne or if he is ready to step back into the coaching furnace.

Ken Hinkley

Port Adelaide coach 2013-24
171 wins, 116 losses
Unable to win a premiership in his 13 seasons with the Power, but he remains one of the more respected coaches of the modern era. At 58, Hinkley may want to take a break, or to step into a less pressured role at another club – should he want to remain in the game.

Adam Simpson

West Coast coach 2014-24
122 wins, 119 losses, one draw
The West Coast premiership coach had 11 years at the club before his departure last year. However, his final two seasons were dreadful, including a 16-game losing streak, and eight wins from his final 64 games. He has impressed as a commentator this year, his insights showing the sharp tactical and cultural mind he has.

James Hird

Essendon coach 2011-13, 2015
41 wins, 43 losses, one draw
Will the Demons consider putting in a call to the Bombers’ great? He hasn’t been an AFL senior coach since leaving Essendon in 2015, when the doping saga had destroyed the club. Had the support of club great and then board member Kevin Sheedy to return as coach in late 2022, but the Bombers plumped for Brad Scott. Had a stint as a GWS assistant coach in 2022, and is now an assistant with VFL side Port Melbourne. Is a respected voice on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified and Footy Furnace.

Danny Daly

Has done just about every role at club land for 25 years. Has had stints at Collingwood, Richmond and North Melbourne, and has now been at Brisbane for 15 years. He began with the Lions as strategy coach under Justin Leppitsch, before emerging as Chris Fagan’s right-hand man, and now football department chief. Nudging 60, could he be the new Fagan, awarded the top job later in life? Has strong backing to be a senior coach – should he want to do it.

Daniel Giansiracusa

Was on Richmond’s shortlist before the Tigers chose Adem Yze. Has filled various roles at the Western Bulldogs, including leading their VFL program, and now Essendon, where he has broadened his skills outside of coaching. Was the AFL Coaches Association assistant coach of the year in 2020.

Hayden Skipworth

Was pipped at the post by Andrew McQualter for the vacant West Coast job last year. Has a résumé that must win him a top job at some point. Is Craig McRae’s senior assistant, having earlier specialised in ball movement and stoppages (in the Pies’ 2023 premiership year), and takes charge of the program when McRae is away. Was a long-time development/assistant coach at Essendon, and built the club’s VFL program.

Ashley Hansen

Respected senior assistant to Michael Voss at Carlton, and has been forwards coach and in charge of strategy. A 2006 premiership player with West Coast, Hansen made a name for himself as a future senior coach when an assistant to Luke Beveridge, and also coached the Bulldogs to a VFL flag.

Jaymie Graham

Is also ready for the top job. Was one of the final candidates at Collingwood before the Magpies settled on McRae. Is a highly respected member of Justin Longmuir’s coaching crew, having overseen ball movement and the forward line. The former Eagle (37 games from 2005 to 2008) has also been a development coach at St Kilda and assistant with West Coast, and a senior coach with WAFL side East Perth. Has a teaching degree.

Corey Enright

An assistant to Ross Lyon, the Cats premiership great is head of strategy and game plan. Is seen as a potential successor to Lyon.

Steven King

The Geelong assistant was on the Eagles’ shortlist last year, having been an interim senior coach at Gold Coast in 2024 when Stuart Dew was sacked. The former Geelong and St Kilda player said he felt his dream of becoming a senior coach was “close to a reality” before he met in Perth with the Eagles.

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