Rumours swirl over missing audio of Sydney Swans coach

There have been suggestions former Swans coach John Longmire “buried” a piece of audio with rumours of “reputational damage” swirling.

There have been suggestions former Swans coach John Longmire “buried” a piece of audio from Sydney’s 2024 Grand Final flop.

The premiership-winning coach lived a nightmare with a fourth grand final defeat as the Swans were put to the sword by the Brisbane Lions in the 2024 season decider.

It emerged on Monday night an audio recording device from a microphone Longmire wore throughout the day was not returned to AFL officials.

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According to Channel 7’s Agenda Setters, Longmire is reported to have removed an “SD card” from the recording device.

The microphone was recording audio for AFL Media’s annual Sound The Alarm documentary — a series that includes audio from the coaches on Grand Final day.

According to 7News reporter Mitch Cleary, Longmire was to be paid a fee for agreeing to the arrangement as previous coaches have done since the series began in 2019.

However, the audio never made it back to the producers of the series after the Lions’ 60-point victory.

John Longmire sat through agony in his 2024 Grand Final press conference. Photo: Fox Footy.

“Last year’s grand final, John Longmire was mic’d up on the day, had the pre-game address, the half-time address, the in-box — everything that came with it,” Cleary said on Monday night.

“But post-game, when he handed back the equipment to the AFL, he took the SD card and, to this day, the AFL don’t have the SD card — he never gave it back.

“He took it, tried to get it working with his son during the week, couldn’t do so, and has since never handed it back.”

When asked if it is likely Longmire lost the card or deliberately buried it, Cleary responded it was “more on the buried side of things”.

“Clearly some things were said in the box that he didn’t want other ears to hear on the day,” Cleary reported.

He went on to say: “I think there were some things said about players and some heat-of-the-moment conversations that people don’t want to ever hear.”

The report sparked instant rumours with St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt responding on the Agenda Setters panel by asking if the audio could have “reputational or brand damage”.

“Anyone inside the industry would not really be shocked by things said in the coaches box during the heat of battle so it’s probably more the external perception of what goes on in the coach’s box,” he said.

Veteran reporter Caroline Wilson also made a link between the missing audio and rumours that came out of the Swans rooms on grand final day.

John Longmire steps down. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

“It was reported as early as halfway through the first quarter that things got a bit panicked both in the coaches box and down on the bench and the coach himself was – obviously not losing it – but becoming quite panicked as has been reported repeatedly,” she said.

“I reckon giving up the money is a cheaper price.”

The game ended up being a sad final act for the 54-year-old’s tenure at the club.

He stepped down as head coach in November with former deputy Dean Cox stepping into the top job.

The former North Melbourne forward finished his 14-year tenure having won a premiership in 2012, winning three minor premierships and featuring in five total grand finals.

Longmire was in tears during his farewell press conference in November when Cox was presented as senior coach for the first time.

Sydney announced at the time Longmire has taken up a newly created position as executive director of club performance.

It was reported at the time Longmire was being well compensated for stepping down.

Despite this, Longmire continues to be linked with a return to senior coaching.

While he appears to be enjoying his time out of the coaching game, including making weekly appearances on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Longmire remains a wanted man in the footy coaching landscape.

Channel 9 reported in May figures in the industry believe Longmire is “attainable” for clubs looking for a new head coach.

Longmire took over from Paul Roos in 2011 and coached the Swans in 333 matches including 208 wins.

He is the longest tenured coach in Sydney Swans history

Longmire’s grand final record will read one win, four losses.

The most painful of those defeats was this year’s grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions where the club was thrashed in humiliating fashion.

The pain was compounded in a devastating post-match press conference where he spoke to reporters while the Brisbane Lions celebrated their win on the other side of the wall.

Sydney have lost their past four grand finals by a combined total of 226 points and there have already been serious headaches for Cox to manage this year with the Swans’ season on life support with a 6-8 record.

Longmire will be remembered for much more than his prickly 2024 Grand Final press conference, but it will also be a moment that will live long in the memory of footy fans.

The Swans were reportedly unhappy Longmire had to do the press conference just metres away from where the Lions were singing their team song.

While Longmire was occasionally seen losing his cool in the coach’s box or with his players, he was typically very measured when addressing the media.

However, you can only assume he was at breaking point when members of the press arrived late for his press conference with noise of yahooing Lions players booming into the press conference room every time the door was open and shut by late arrivals.