‘Horse’ has bolted: Longmire makes a huge call on his coaching future
Updated July 22, 2026 — 7:32pm,first published 2:27pm
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In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- A new, unheralded name has emerged in Essendon’s coaching hunt.
- A teammate of Scott Pendlebury has joked his games record is within sight.
- Melbourne vice captain Jack Viney has resumed training and is making a bid to play in the finals.
Sydney’s 2012 premiership coach John Longmire has declared he’s not interested in coaching either Carlton or Essendon.
Days after Tasmania appointed Ken Hinkley as their inaugural coach, Longmire told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 that business interests in New South Wales were his primary focus moving forward.
John Longmire will not enter the race for the Essendon or Carlton coaching roles.Dominic Lorrimer
The five-time AFL grand final coach said he seriously looked at re-entering the coaching caper, but ultimately shied away.
“I said at the very start of this, a few weeks ago now, that these things becoming clearer over time,” said Longmire, who ended his long tenure as Swans coach in the aftermath of the 2024 grand final loss to Brisbane.
Asked specifically if he was ready to coach again, Longmire replied: “No I’m not.
“I certainly explored it,” he said.
“I went down the path of looking at it, [and] looked at it seriously. There’s no question with that.
“I’m really fortunate – I helped start a business up here 12 months ago that I’m really jumping into and enjoying. There’s plenty to do. Plenty of potential in that.”
When pushed about the Carlton and Essendon roles specifically, Longmire confirmed he wouldn’t chase either one.
“I’ll be staying here in Sydney, and focused on the business here that’s doing really well, and got great potential,” he said.
Longmire embarked on the role as executive director of club performance at the Swans after handing the senior coaching reins to Dean Cox in late 2024.
- Scott Spits
Who is Murray Davis, the dark horse in the Essendon coaching race?
Jon Pierik
A senior Adelaide figure has emerged as a shock candidate for the Essendon coaching role.
Murray Davis, the Crows’ director of football and former long-time assistant coach with the Brisbane Lions, will meet with the Bombers as part of a round of introductory meetings.
Once these coffee catch-ups are done, the Bombers will finalise their shortlist of candidates, expected to be completed by early August.
Bombs away: The Crows poached Murray Davis from the Brisbane Lions to support coach Matthew Nicks.AFL Photos
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said on Wednesday that Davis had aspirations to be a senior coach, and was a fine candidate that Bombers’ president Andrew Welsh should consider.
“It’s no surprise. I don’t want ‘Muz’ to go because he’s that good, but we’re very much about developing people. We’re constantly looking at how we can help them progress,” Nicks said.
“Murray’s got an aspiration to head coach, and he’d be an amazing head coach. He’s done a fantastic job, and he should be considered.”
Davis joined the Crows leading into the 2025 campaign, having had 13 seasons with the Lions in several roles. He was involved in development, and also coached the defenders for a decade, before switching to the forward line for the 2024 premiership season.
This masthead reported in August last year about Davis and his partner, Breeanna Brock, living 2000 kilometres apart but being one of the most influential figures in clubland.
Brock, a highly respected AFLW pioneer who set up the Lions’ program a decade ago, left her role at Brisbane late last year to relocate to South Australia. She’s now the Crows’ head of AFLW.
Industry sources, preferring to speak anonymously, said Davis had excellent man-management skills, and explained the game in a simple manner for young players to understand.
He has also been a senior coach in his own right, having led the Northern Territory Thunder to a NEAFL premiership in 2011.
In the running: James Hird is currently director of coaching at Port Melbourne but has made no secret of his desire to once again coach the Bombers.Getty Images
Davis was awarded the AFL Coaches Association Career and Education Award last year, having helped the Crows finish on top of the ladder. He finished just behind the Lions’ Cam Bruce as the assistant coach of the year.
Owen Leonard with Roy Ward
With Collingwood midfielder Jordan De Goey set to reach his 200-game milestone on Thursday night, he has playfully set his sights on passing teammate Scott Pendlebury’s AFL games record.
The 30-year-old Magpies stalwart is proud to still be a one-club player after being drafted by the Magpies in 2014, and he playfully told Nine News he’s now planning to chase down Pendlebury’s record of 438 matches (and counting).
“I think I will play another 250 to 300 games, so I’ll take over Scott’s record, and we’ll go from there,” De Goey told Nine News with a laugh.
An 2021 incident in New York from which he faced charges made shockwaves at the time and De Goey admits it took him longer than most to mature as an AFL player.
“It wasn’t the easiest period of time, but it was about making my inner circle even smaller,” De Goey told Nine.
“I’ve got great friends and family around me now, and they’ve been sticking with me for a long while.
“You meet people, you change friendship groups and everything like that, and it was a learning experience for me. It probably took me a bit longer than it did other people, but we got there in the end.”
De Goey spoke glowingly about his baby daughter Tatum, who was born in December last year, and his favourite memory from the Magpies’ 2023 flag.
“Everything about that year was special to me,” De Goey told Nine.
“It is a bit of a blur, but getting to spend time with my grandma after the game – she made it down into the rooms, which was awesome. Unfortunately, she passed away probably a month later.
“It’s moments like that which bring the family together, and I’ve got photos forever to show Tatum what that was like, I’m pretty grateful for that.”
The boost propelling a forgotten champion’s unlikely finals bid
Jon Pierik
Last week, Melbourne coach Steven King almost ruled Jack Viney out for the season. On Wednesday, the premiership veteran was back training at Casey Fields in what could be a remarkable finals comeback for the injured champion.
The 32-year-old Viney has not played since round 24 last year due to Achilles and lower back injuries. But King said the Demons vice captain had made progress, even though it was too early to put a timeline on any return, and there was now a chance for the heart-and-soul stalwart.
Back on the track: Club great Jack Viney has returned to training.AFL Photos
“He’s had a couple of sessions and got to a point where he’s recovered well,” King said of the 237-game champion.
“Sometimes when you increase load your body either shuts down or actually responds well. He’s taken a couple of steps forward so maybe he might have just broken through that barrier where he can string a couple of sessions together. I think anything is a bonus for Jack.”
King has taken on board advice from Geelong counterpart Chris Scott as the master and apprentice prepare to go head-to-head under the Friday night lights.
The Demons return to the marquee timeslot for only the second time this season when they face the injury-hit Cats at the MCG.
Embracing the moment: Melbourne coach Steven King is ready for the Friday night lights this week.AFL Photos
King and skipper Max Gawn were quick to make a point last weekend of how big an occasion this was for the Demons, who were taken off Broadway this season as the AFL and broadcasters thought they were in a rebuilding year after parting with premiership stars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.
Instead, the Demons have leapt to sixth on the ladder and are one of the more exciting teams to watch.
King, a former Geelong captain, and assistant to Scott with the Cats through 2024-25, said the Demons were ready to embrace the Friday night focus.
“We have been craving and playing a brand of footy that stacks up, that people will want to watch. So, to get this prime-time slot is great recognition for our playing group for what they have been doing throughout the year,” King said.
“We want to make sure we do the occasion proud by playing a brand of footy that even neutrals watching will go: ‘That was entertaining, and a good game of footy’.”
The Demons’ only appearance on either a Thursday or Friday night this season was in their annual Anzac Eve clash against Richmond.
King said he had embraced the advice from Scott this week not to over-think playing against a club he has intimate knowledge of, although Scott questioned whether King had ever thought about facing a Cats unit missing injured stars Jeremy Cameron and Max Holmes.
“Yeah, certainly I think you can give your players too much information. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. You go about what you can control and what you need to take care of as a team,” King said.
“There are some things the way you plan to try and beat a team like Geelong but, if you outline every point and detail and position around what they are doing, you forget about yourself. I thought that was really sound advice from Chris, one that I’ll take on board.
“If you look at all their strengths and weapons they have as a team, you have got to be careful what message you sell to your own players.”
King said the Demons had embraced playing with speed and flair, but “there has been a bit of grit that has been building underneath”.
“If you can’t put 100 points on the board now and fight with the big boys, you are down a weight class or two,” King said.
Key defender Daniel Turner (cracked ribs) was a major loss, but the Demons had potential replacements, including Tom McDonald and Harrison Petty.
Changkuoth Jiath, who hurt his calf against North Melbourne last weekend, is still a chance to play. Fellow half-back Christian Salem has continued to build fitness in the VFL after a foot fracture and is close to a senior return.
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.
Roy Ward is a sports writer, live blogger and breaking news journalist. He's been writing for The Age since 2010.Connect via X or email.