Eagles legend out of race for West Coast job amid talk of Sydney Swans succession plan

An AFL great has ruled himself out of the race to be West Coast’s new coach amid reports he’s part of another coaching succession plan.

Dean Cox and John Longmire.

West Coast great Dean Cox has reportedly ruled himself out of the race to replace embattled Eagles coach Adam Simpson amid speculation he is likely to take over from John Longmire as the Sydney Swans’ next coach.

Despite a shock win over the Western Bulldogs on the weekend, the Eagles sit second last on the AFL ladder and are considering the future of Simpson, who has two years left on his contract.

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Cox, a six-time All Australian and premiership ruckman with the Eagles, was reportedly sounded out by West Coast for a coaching role and as a potential replacement for Simpson.

But according to Channel 9, the 42-year-old has told West Coast he will remain in Sydney, where he is an assistant coach at the Swans.

Cox is part of an experienced group of Swans assistants including Swans 300-gamer Jarryd McVeigh and former Adelaide senior coach Don Pyke.

Dean Cox is tipped to be the next Swans coach. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

Dean Cox consoles Chad Warner after Sydney’s 2022 AFL Grand Final loss. Photo: Phil Hillyard

Nine’s Paddy Sweeney reported: “Eagles premiership ruckman Dean Cox is understood to be so highly regarded by Sydney, plans are in place for him to take over from current coach John Longmire.

“It’s believed Cox is seen by the Swans as the perfect successor Longmire when his deal expires in two years.

“Cox has become more involved in Sydney’s recruiting process, his family is settled in the harbour city, while he also has business interests there.”

On the weekend, Kane Cornes and David King discussed the potential of club legend Cox taking over Simpson as West Coast coach.

King asked on SEN: “If you were Dean Cox, would you take the job? I keep saying rebuild coaches don’t survive.

“Very few of them do. The percentages are low and it’s the hardest of tasks.

“West Coast are at the very start of a rebuild. Why would Dean Cox want to take this role?”

John Longmire has coached the Swans since 2011. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

Cornes replied: “Because there are not many jobs that come up. There’s just not many. When would he know when the next opportunity is going to come.”

Longmire took over from Paul Roos as Sydney’s senior coach in 2011 and led the Swans to the 2012 premiership. He is contracted to the end of the 2025 season.

The Swans have only missed finals once in Longmire’s 13-year tenure but have lost three grand finals since the 2012 triumph.

The Swans are guaranteed to play finals again after a controversial one-point win over Adelaide, in which the Crows were denied a matchwinning goal by the umpire who incorrectly ruled the ball hit the post.