"The ripple effect for this is going to be profound." | Sammy and JJ on John Longmire joining Essendon (29.09.26)
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Why is John Longmire’s appointment at Essendon such a major coup?
Clearly the news about John Longmire's role at Essendon came from nowhere.
Essendon's biggest recruit since dot, dot, dot.
I
reckon that is the ripple effect for this is going to be profound. And I did say this to Kane. I just hope, I dearly hope our friends at North Melbourne know what they're doing
down
there. Why's that? Well, Adam Simpson and John Longmire both were given the not-too-subtle hint that second-time coaches weren't for North Melbourne. Now we learn that John Longmire is the newly-created head of performance at Essendon.
Why
couldn't he have done that at North Melbourne? Well, they've got Todd Viney. They do, but clubs restructure their football departments all the time. I'm sure he hasn't come cheap. Essendon might be willing to pay a soft-cap tax that North Melbourne are not,
or a bigger
club, or unable. They're a bigger club at the end of the day with perhaps a few more levers to pull. But that is a massive coup.
Why did North Melbourne miss out on John Longmire and Adam Simpson?
I mean, yeah, John Longmore and Adam Simpson, whose history with North Melbourne is well told, and neither of them are going to be there next year in any role.
Can they not... Can they not take the hint from Essendon and maybe go back to Adam Simpson and... I
think the horse has bolted, to be honest with you.
And I think... Pardon the
pun. Yeah, I think... Jeez, when
you have two guys who... Bolted from Arden Street to Tullamarine. And I
think John Longmire was always coming back to Melbourne, okay? That was just... It was just time. He was gettable. North Melbourne have decided not to pursue it, either coaching or another role, and Essendon have. And it's... After 25 years at Sydney, he's back. So I think, yeah, further to your point, tightly held. I fell off my chair when I heard this yesterday. It was actually revealed. Genuine shock? Genuine shock. Revealed by Essendon in a letter to members. Sydney did the same. And this is going to be split.
How will Longmire’s new performance role reshape Essendon’s football department?
They're going to have, I think Craig Vozzo will be the other portion of this football department, head of football department role. This is the same role that they offered Ken Hinckley historically. It's the same role they came to Danny Daly with. Even Dean Solomon was canvassed for this role before he chose to leave the club as well. In the end, they've gone for John Longmire. He's going to oversee game strategy, player development, leadership, the coaching group, performance analytics, and strength and conditioning. That's huge. One thing that isn't mentioned there is he's going to be a culture setter in a massive way at Essendon.
What leadership and culture can John Longmire bring to Essendon?
Well, he's a room commander straight away, isn't he? He's someone who's been there and done that in both capacities as a player and a coach. He's experienced the best and worst of grand final day. I think the other element to this, and I've had a few conversations with Andy Welsh, who's the president of Essendon. We're not good friends, but he was someone that looked after me in my time at the Bombers. And he spoke about this to me around the coaching search, and now it rings true again. He said, we are a club now that are keeping things in-house.
How did Essendon keep John Longmire’s appointment under wraps?
We're not letting things get out. We're making our decisions.
Apart from meetings with
James Hurd, they seem to get out pretty quickly. They did seem to get out. Very quickly. But sometimes when the individual themselves is involved and has a role, that can speed that process up. But you just told me that this news was announced on their website. It was. It was actually on their website, I think, for half an hour before. That's the ultimate level of keeping things in-house. Because not even did a journalist get it an hour before it came out or half an hour before it came out. It dropped. And a story of this magnitude in terms of a structural piece to your football club, it's a credit to them for being able to live that. Yeah. I guess, you know, the proof will be in the pudding in terms of what he can help that club achieve.
A lot of text coming through on this.
Should North Melbourne choose an experienced coach or a first-time coach?
Joe, North Asili, in my opinion, and like you, I seriously hope they know what they are doing. Long-time North supporter.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why is John Longmire’s appointment at Essendon such a major coup?
0:00–0:55
2
Why did North Melbourne miss out on John Longmire and Adam Simpson?
0:55–1:45
3
How will Longmire’s new performance role reshape Essendon’s football department?
1:45–2:19
4
What leadership and culture can John Longmire bring to Essendon?
2:19–2:57
5
How did Essendon keep John Longmire’s appointment under wraps?
2:57–3:46
6
Should North Melbourne choose an experienced coach or a first-time coach?
3:46–4:36
Speakers
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