Former premiership coaches John Longmire and Adam Simpson have not ruled out potentially entertaining the top job at the Melbourne Football Club, while also not expressing keen interest in the role either.
Melbourne sacked coach Simon Goodwin on Monday night, creating a flurry of rumours that have suggested one of Longmire or Simpson may end up replacing Goodwin at the Demons.
But in an appearance on AFL 360, neither were able to give too much away, with Longmire in particular saying he hasn’t thought too much about a coaching future yet.
“I can’t be 100 per cent definitive on what the future holds,” Longmire said.
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“This only happened yesterday.
“I haven’t thought about it.
“At the moment, I’m loving what I’m doing. I’m staying present in that. If that changes, I’ll need to have a think about it at some point maybe.”
Meanwhile, Simpson played questions with a similarly straight bat, saying the thought of a coaching return hasn’t been on his mind.
“Any type of thought of contemplating getting back into coaching, you just refuse to think about it cause you’re dealing with what you’re doing now,” he said.
“To think about [it], 24 hours after someone’s lost their job, it actually hasn’t been in our minds.
“I’m not assuming I’m gonna get a phone call.”
Simpson exited the coaching game midway through the 2024 season, on mutual terms with the West Coast Eagles.
He was reported last week in The West Australian to have moved to Melbourne and been in “casual talks” with at least one Victorian club, with the Dees mentioned as a potential suitor, however, he quickly shut down those suggestions.
Simpson led the Eagles to the 2018 premiership, but in his final three years at the club, only coached the side to eight wins.
Longmire left Sydney in November of last year, making him the most recent person to leave the AFL senior coaching ranks.
He departed following a humiliating Grand Final loss for the Swans, who lost to Brisbane by 10 goals.
But Sydney have struggled in the absence of the ‘horse,’ speaking volumes to his ability as a coach.
Longmire coached the Swans for 14 years, guiding them to the 2012 flag in just his second year at the helm.