Dean Cox is reportedly unlikely to pursue West Coast’s senior coaching vacancy, with Sydney viewing the highly-rated assistant as John Longmire’s eventual successor.
Cox is widely seen as the Eagles’ number one target to replace Adam Simpson’s role. One of West Coast’s greatest ever players, Cox was an assistant at the Eagles for three seasons before moving to the Swans at the end of 2017 as an assistant under Longmire.
And speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified, AFL journalist Tom Morris reports there’s mutual interest between the ladder-leading Swans and Cox for him to stay at the club – and even eventually replace Longmire.
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“The Swans are very confident they can hold onto him,” Morris began on Footy Classified.
“Longmire is out of contract at the end of next year and the Swans won’t begin those discussions until next year begins, at least, which is unusual in the modern landscape.
“But Dean Cox is comfortable being in Sydney and the Swans are comfortable with Dean Cox being there and there’s a broad acknowledgment he’s not going to pursue any gig at the Eagles.
“They believe he’s staying and not going anywhere … it’s not a succession plan because there’s no timeline on it.
“They unofficially think Cox is their next man and Cox knows this, it’s just whether that happens. I think Longmire coaches as long he realistically wants to coach for.”
Longmire, 53, is in his 14th season as Swans coach and at the top of his game. The club sits three games and healthy percentage clear at the top of the ladder as the premiership favourite.
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But given Longmire’s lengthy tenure, Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd believes Cox will take over the reigns at Sydney “in a couple of years”.
“There’s a chance (Longmire doesn’t re-sign with the Swans), it’s been 14 years. Yes he’s on top of the ladder. But I don’t Cox is staying if he’s not sure if (he’s going to take the helm in the short term),” Lloyd said on Channel 9.
With that in mind, Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes thinks the Eagles should pursue Longmire.
“If I hear that and I’m West Coast I go straight to John Longmire’s manager and say: ‘If this is the case, let’s get you’,” Cornes responded.
“He along with Chris Scott would be the number one target.
“100 per cent they should (try and poach Longmire). If John feels like he’s been there a long time and if they have great success this year and the players are ready for another voice, you’d have to ask the question.”