John Longmire

John Longmire – AFL Premiership Coach, Elite Leader & Culture Builder

John Longmire is one of the most respected figures in modern Australian football. As the longest-serving Senior Coach in Sydney Swans history and one of the game’s most consistently successful leaders, John is widely regarded as one of the AFL’s premier coaching minds.

With a career spanning over 500 AFL games—200 as a player and more than 300 as a coach—John has remained at the forefront of the sport for decades. His ability to adapt, evolve, and connect with the modern player has underpinned his longevity and success.

Longmire began his coaching career with the Swans in 2002 as a ruck and forward coach, rising through the ranks to become Coaching Coordinator, and eventually Senior Coach in 2011. Under his leadership, Sydney has reached 12 of a possible 14 Finals Series, highlighted by a Premiership in 2012 and Grand Final appearances in 2014, 2016, and 2022. He was twice named AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year (2012, 2014).

Renowned for building a strong, values-driven culture, John’s coaching philosophy is grounded in relationships, professionalism, and high performance. He’s been instrumental in the development of some of the AFL’s biggest stars—including Lance Franklin, Adam Goodes, and Barry Hall—guiding them through the highs and lows of elite sport with care, clarity, and purpose.

As a player, Longmire was a prodigious talent. He burst onto the AFL scene with North Melbourne as a teenager, winning the Coleman Medal, Syd Barker Medal, and All-Australian honours—all in the same year. He was a multiple-time leading goalkicker and played a key role in North Melbourne’s 1999 Premiership, which came in his final AFL game. Despite enduring two knee reconstructions, his resilience and determination shaped the leader he would later become.

Following a brief stint as a player manager with global firm IMG, John returned to football to begin his long-standing coaching journey.

In total, John Longmire has been involved in five AFL Grand Finals as either a player or coach—a testament to his commitment to excellence and team success.

Today, John is a highly sought-after keynote speaker. He shares powerful insights into leadership, high performance, culture-building, strategic thinking, and personal development—drawing from over 30 years at the elite level. His message resonates across industries, inspiring leaders, teams, and organisations to reach their full potential.