Ken Hinkley spruiks John Longmire as a possible coach for Carlton Blues, Craig McRae backs Hayden Skipworth
Updated ,first published
AFL premiership coaches John Longmire and Adam Simpson have refused to say whether they want to coach Carlton, with both saying they need more time to gauge their desire to coach at the top level again.
A day after Michael Voss’ decision to leave the Blues – with immediate effect – was made public, two powerful managers said Voss’ departure meant it was too early to take his old job.
Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley also did not withdraw his candidacy for the role but gave strong support to 2012 Sydney premiership coach Longmire.
However, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir insisted he would not switch to Carlton.
West Coast’s 2018 flag-winning coach Simpson, who is a part-time mentor and coaching advisor at the Blues, said his answer to the Carlton vacant role was “no today”.
“I don’t know,” Simpson said when pressed about the coaching question on Wednesday night during his and Longmire’s regular AFL 360 segment.
“It’s ‘no’ today, but what will it be like in 10, 14, 15 weeks?
“It’s weird to say that because people think the answer is yes or no.
“I assume there are some career coaches there. [would say]’I am a career coach, I will coach until I die’.
“[But] I think there’s a little more depth in our lives. And there’s a lot to work on.”
Similarly, when asked if he was ready to “entertain” his coaching return, Longmire said, “I don’t feel ready to answer that.”
The five-time AFL grand final coach resigned following Sydney’s brutal grand final defeat to the Lions in 2024, adding: “For me it’s not a simple yes or no answer. It’s not about that.”
“For me, these things tend to become clear after a while.
“From my perspective, I’m happy to let this time pass.”
AFL360 host Garry Lyon told Longmire it was inevitable that Carlton would call him.
“I don’t like to deal with hypotheticals right now; I’m not interested in what may or may not happen on the track,” Longmire replied.
“I’ll let time play [out].”
“I feel really comfortable saying that.”
Longmuir was asked the following question: Agenda Setters On Kane Cornes’ view that the Blues should pursue him as a replacement for Michael Voss.
Longmuir was insistent about whether he would entertain it or not.
“No,” he said.
“I’m very comfortable coaching Freo. I’m very comfortable with the contract I have at the moment. I’m very comfortable with the situation at the club – we all are. From my perspective, it’s not a story.”
While Hinkley had previously ruled out stepping out of his role at the Blues, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said senior assistant Hayden Skipworth was ready to become coach.
Hinkley told SEN on Wednesday that Longmire had all the qualifications and experience to deliver the cultural overhaul needed at Carlton, but admitted that “everyone was anticipating a first-time coach would get the job”.
“I would be fascinated if John Longmire wasn’t really talked about in depth at Carlton because he’s so attuned to cultural issues and he did that in Sydney,” Hinkley said.
“[He would provide] Strong leadership, consistent behavior, [he] It requires high performance and he has consistently led his team to finals… he has a track record that says he can win but that’s [Sydney] a different list [to Carlton].”
Current Swans coach Dean Cox is unsure whether such a quick return to senior coaching is on Longmire’s radar.
Cox’s predecessor has previously spoken about how much he is enjoying his new role as Sydney’s executive director of club performance.
Meanwhile, Swans chairman Andrew Pridham joked in an interview on 3AW on Saturday – before Voss’ departure was confirmed – that he would not take Carlton’s call if they were to call him about an investigation into Longmire.
It seems inevitable that the Blues will make an approach, but even his protégé and successor Cox has no real knowledge of Longmire’s ambitions – or at least it is not something he is prepared to share publicly.
“I haven’t talked to him specifically about whether he wants to coach again,” Cox said earlier Wednesday.
“I don’t know if he has the passion and wants to come back, but he’s a great coach and a great football man as well. It’s a decision he has to make.”
Hinkley, who will be 60 at the end of this season, is four years older than Longmire. The former Power keeper hinted that age will be a factor to consider when assessing the task of rebuilding Carlton following Voss’ departure on Tuesday.
“Now there is some work to be done on this list. [speaking] from a distance,” said Hinkley.
“My problem is I’m a much older person, so I’m 59 and I get the feeling it’s been a long run for Carlton.
“It’s harder for me to answer now because people immediately say, ‘He wants to coach Carlton’ or ‘He doesn’t want to coach Carlton.’ I’m not ready to go black and white and say, ‘I want to do that too…’ There’s a lot more facts you need to gather before you make a decision.”
The Blues are expected to approach Skipworth, one of the league’s most respected assistant coaches.
“His strategy is really good. His people management is really good. The way he has room. He’s really well organized. He’s very curious. He’s always improving himself, always looking for a better way. He travels to improve himself,” McRae said of Skipworth on Wednesday.
“He has a lot of experience now. [but] You can never be fully ready. “You’re never really ready for this job unless you’ve done it before… yeah, from what I’ve seen, I think Skip will be ready.”
Blues chief executive Graham Wright has great insight into Skipworth, 43, from their time together at Collingwood. Skipworth was one of the leading candidates to replace Adam Simpson on the West Coast but narrowly lost out to Andrew McQualter in the role.
The former Essendon and Adelaide player also spoke to Melbourne in September last year as the Demons searched for Simon Goodwin’s replacement, but withdrew on the eve of official talks.
Skipworth was long regarded as a senior trainer in waiting; McRae has publicly praised him for his tactical insights in the 2023 premiership year and he managed much of the Magpies’ pre-season last summer when McRae took a long break.
Hinkley said the Blues under Voss appeared incapable of playing “modern football for four quarters”.
Hinkley, Geelong’s best and fairest winner in 1992, coached Port Adelaide for 13 seasons from 2013-25, making 15 final appearances in 297 appearances and winning 59 per cent of matches.
His tenure overlapped with Longmire’s tenure as Sydney coach (2011-2024); This secured the Swans’ premiership in 2012, winning 63 per cent of the 333 matches he coached.
Hinkley also nominated Simpson (West Coast 2014-24) and Nathan Buckley (Collingwood 2012-21), who coached against each other in the 2018 grand final, as other test coaches the Blues could consider.
However, Hinkley also noted that there are a number of talented coaches currently working in supporting roles at clubs who have not yet been tried in a senior role but could ultimately have what the Blues are looking for.
Hinkley, who has previously told the media he is a career coach trying out a new profession, said anyone with serious coaching ambitions would take the opportunity to speak to the Blues about the vacancy to be filled on an interim basis by assistant Josh Fraser.
Fraser led the club’s training at Ikon Park on Wednesday, the day after Voss left the club.
with Vince Rugari
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Jon Pierik is a sports reporter for The Age. He covers the AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect with: X or email.
