Sydney Swans' AFL Premiership winning coach John Longmire has been poached by Essendon Bombers to become their new General Manager of Performance.
Longmire leaves Sydney after 25 years of service as both a coach and Executive Director of Club Performance to join back up with his former assistant and current Bombers coach Mark McVeigh.
The longest serving coach in Sydney history -- with 333 games under his belt -- Longmire had a hand in the 2005 Premiership win that ended a 72-year drought, the 2012 Grand Final win and five appearances in the sport's showpiece game.
He stepped down in 2024 following the loss to Brisbane Lions at the final hurdle.
The 55-year-old will begin his new role this week, prior to the upcoming trade period, so he will need to hit the ground running to give the Bombers the best possible off-season.
The aspects Longmire is expected to oversee in the job are as follows;
- Strength and conditioning
- Player development
- Strength and conditioning
- Performance analytics
- Game strategy
- Leadership
- The coaching group
Essendon finished last on the ladder in the 2026 season and have opted to show support to first-year coach McVeigh rather than moving him on, and the addition of a close friend and veteran of the sport should have a positive effect around the place.
Longmire spent 14 seasons as senior coach of Sydney, so will be able to offer guidance to someone new to the world of management, with few people in a position to understand the demands of the role like he does.
