John Longmire and Leon Cameron both feeling the heat ahead of Sydney derby

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire and GWS Giants counterpart Leon Cameron are both under pressure heading into Sydney derby, but for different reasons.

Pictured at Spotless Stadium in Homebush ahead of their game on Saturday GWS coach Leon Cameron , Swans coach John Longmire and Swans Captain Josh Kennedy. Picture: Richard Dobson

Collingwood great Mick McGuane says if time machines were real, the Sydney Swans might try to parachute their coach into the forward line alongside Lance Franklin.

At North Melbourne in the 1990s, John Longmire kicked 511 goals and his combination with superstar Wayne Carey was a cornerstone of the Kangaroos’ success.

Unlike King Carey, the game’s new blockbuster star is a one-man band and the search continues at the Swans for a lieutenant.

Longmire isn’t squeezing back into tight shorts any time soon, but as coach he is facing his biggest challenge since taking over from Paul Roos nearly a decade ago.

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Over at GWS, Leon Cameron is also under more pressure than he has been heading into a Sydney derby.

The honeymoon is well and truly over for the talented ­Giants and the time is now for GWS to push for a title.

McGuane, a Magpies premiership winner and The Daily Telegraph’s expert columnist, played against Cameron in the ’90s and remembers a creative and skilful player not unlike some of the talents he is coaching today.

Coaching isn’t about reliving the past, but Longmire and Cameron are two men who lived and breathed the game and their passion cuts through with young players.

Longmire is locked in as Swans coach until the end of 2020 and McGuane is intrigued to see what’s next for one of the most effective ­mentors of the modern era.

“It’s a big challenge for him, isn’t it?” McGuane said.

“They have a mountain to climb and there are probably components of their game that are ­really disappointing him and them at the moment.

“A couple of their warriors in Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker are not getting any younger and their bodies aren’t going any softer. You admire them for the way they play but they look a little bit tired.

“That’s the next challenge for Longmire. Trying to reinvigorate that midfield group.”

GWS coach Leon Cameron and Sydney coach John Longmire are both under pressure. Picture: Richard Dobson

Cameron’s Giants announced themselves as serious challengers when they knocked over Geelong in Geelong. But losing the next week to Fremantle in Canberra ­exposed the fact that GWS ­remain vulnerable.

They need to find the consistency of a heavyweight side, and McGuane said Cameron must focus on defence.

“A lot has been said about their talent and the good players they’ve had at their disposal and there’s huge expectation on the back of them saying that,” McGuane said.

“There are no more excuses for that group or for Leon.

“He has the nucleus of a good group with 80 to 100 games of AFL footy into their bodies and now there’s an opportunity to find some continuity.

“The biggest question I’ve got about them is do they defend the ground strongly enough compared to other teams?

“If they get a tighter defence, their natural offensive talent will take care of itself.”