John Longmire has one of the games most impressive records as Senior Coach of the Sydney Swans & is considered one of the best modern day coaches in AFL football.

Having competed in over 500 AFL games ( 200 as a player ) John has remained a competitor and continually adjusted and developed his coaching style to suit the modern day player.

Commencing his coaching career with the Sydney Swans in 2002 as a rucks/forward coach, John moved his way up through the coaching ranks continuing as an assistant until 2007 before being appointed as coaching coordinator. John held this role until 2011 when he was appointed as Senior Coach.

John has reached the AFL Finals in almost each year he has been Senior Coach, having competed in 12 of a possible 14 Finals Series. This has included a Premiership in 2012, and Grand Final appearances in 2014, 2016, and 2022. He is the longest serving coach in Sydney Swans history & was also voted AFL coach of the year in 2012 & 2014 by the AFL Coaches Association.

This success reflects the culture John has helped build over a long period of time which is built on personal relationship and demands a high level of professionalism and intensity from his playing group.

Having overseen some terrific playing groups, John has been fundamental in the careers of some of the games greatest players including Lance Franklin, Adam Goodes & Barry Hall to name a few. Guiding them through the many highs and lows a career in elite sport can take you, John nurtures each individual player, no matter how experienced or inexperienced they are, he is driven to get the best out of each player.

Before becoming a coach, John was a very successful player for North Melbourne. He burst on the VFL/AFL scene as a schoolboy winning a Coleman Medal, Syd Barker Medal, and All Australian Award all in the one year. He was also the leading goal kicker for North Melbourne on a number of occasions.

Whilst John enjoyed great success throughout his playing career culminating in an AFL Premiership in his final game, he also endured many tough times including two knee reconstructions. One of which kept him out of the 1996 AFL Grand Final where North Melbourne beat the Swans. 

Immediately following his retirement from playing, John was briefly a player manager for global giant IMG for two years before heading back into the AFL Club environment.

As of 2024, John has been involved as a player ond Senior Coach in 5 AFL Grand Finals, which in itself is a reflection of John’s commitment to elite achievements.

John delivers an exceptional keynote which covers topics including leadership, team building and re-building, culture, strategy, coaching and development.

John applies the leadership, team building and culture skills he has learnt over his career to the corporate market.

Achievements: 

• Sydney Premiership Coach 2012

• AFLCA Coach of the Year 2012 & 14

• North Melbourne Premiership Player 1999

• Coleman Medal 1990

• Syd Barker Medal 1990

• All Australian 1990

• North Melbourne Leading Goal Kicker 1990 – 94