Inside the instability facing Sydney after departure of key figures including John Longmire and Charlie Gardiner

Sydney is facing instability it has rarely seen in its AFL history after the departures of several key names. We examine where the Swans are at and what will come next.

In the modern era of the AFL, not many teams have presented a stronger display of on and off-field stability than the Sydney Swans.

But former Greater Western Sydney coach and current Swans footy boss Leon Cameron’s move into the coaching box to help first-year coach Dean Cox amid their slow start to the season is the latest sign that a period of major change might be finally catching up with them.

The move from the bench to the box from the experienced Cameron shows the Swans are clearly searching for answers to what has gone awry.

Since 2000, the Swans have only missed finals on five occasions, have had just four coaches in 30 years and have grown to become one of the biggest sporting clubs in a non-traditional market for Aussie rules.

However, major shifts across their coaching, playing and executive group over the past 24 months – including the impending departure of their CEO – has them well and truly preparing for a new era. And although they’ve adjusted well in the past, Sydney’s 4-8 record in 2025 suggests it may take longer to adjust than usual this time around.

THE COACHES

When John Longmire announced at the end of last year that he would be immediately stepping down from the head coaching role at the Swans, it wasn’t a shock, but it did take a few people by surprise.

Longmire, who had one more year left on his contract, was the longest-serving coach in the club’s history, had led them to a premiership and four other grand final appearances and overall had an inimitable presence in the role.

The Swans knew they were entering a new era once Longmire departed from his role at the end of 2024. Picture: Phil Hillyard

But with Cox given the mantle following a long apprenticeship, with an experienced group of assistants under him including Ben Mathews, Amon Buchanan and the McVeigh brothers, Mark and Jarrad, the playing group remained in safe hands.

However, Longmire’s departure had two impacts. Firstly, it officially marked the end of an era, and came just 12 months after another experienced member of the team, Don Pyke, left his role as assistant coach to become West Coast CEO.

Secondly, although the coaching restructure occurred in a time frame that allowed Cox to completely run the pre-season, it didn’t give him the time to bring in the proper support.

And as Mark McVeigh admitted a fortnight ago, it has essentially left them “a couple of” coaches down all season.

“We’re doing a little bit of shuffling because we’re obviously a couple of coaches down because Horse left late in the piece, thanks to him,” Mark McVeigh said on Triple M before the Swans’ loss to Melbourne.

Don Pyke (R) was another big presence at the Swans who left their coaching department in recent years. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I think Leon will be up in the box today. He’s a great sounding board for Coxy, he’s a previous senior coach, and he’s our football manager. I’ll be down on the bench today, looking after that area.”

Leon Cameron is as experienced as they come as the Swans’ general manager of football. He brings a wealth of knowledge after 193 games in charge of the Giants as head coach.

But seeing him in the coaches’ box during the Melbourne clash at the MCG was a sign that the Swans were keen to draw on him for even more support in a role an assistant coach would usually fill.

Cox conceded on Thursday that while he’s got confidence in the coaching group at his disposal, he would look at ways to improve the set-up, while also making a clear distinction of how Cameron was assisting.

“You’re always looking to improve your program,” Cox said. “You’re always trying to make sure the players have the best chance to perform at the level and be a really successful footy team.

“When the situation came at the back end of last year, I just wanted our coaches to coach, to run a specific area of that as well as a line, and they’ve done that really well. Performances aren’t showing that, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in this coaching group.

“Leon’s there to run the footy department, not to coach. He’s clear on that. But having said that, if you’ve got an ex-senior coach that’s running your footy program, I do ask questions of Leon. And he’s open to give that advice, so he’s a really good sounding board.”

Cameron has become a “sounding board” for Cox in the head coaching role, although there is a clear distinction that here’s not there to coach. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE PLAYERS

One of the most shocking aspects of the Swans’ poor start to the season is the fact that the “Bloods culture” has been called into question.

Formulated by Stuart Maxfield and Paul Roos in the early 2000s and typified by training exercises like players going onto Driver Ave and doing bare-knuckle push-ups, it’s an old-school attitude that the Swans have always placed as priority number one. Fight like hell and don’t let the opposition scrap harder than you’re willing to.

That’s not down to Cox, who has been big on both buying into the Bloods’ style and his defence-first formula. He has trained his players with that game style in mind, and in the long term, he believes that will be the way the club wins its next premiership. However, he needs the players to buy in, and they’re not currently doing that.

Naturally, there has been a fair bit of player movement in recent years. Lance Franklin was the forward-line figurehead, with that mantle passed on to the younger trio of Joel Amartey, Hayden McLean and Logan McDonald.

But probably more telling is the fact that they’ve lost some of the club’s true heart in the past 12 months.

This is the first time in 20 seasons that the Swans don’t have a player on their list who has won a premiership in the red and white. Luke Parker’s departure to North Melbourne and Sam Reid’s retirement were turning points that can’t be undersold.

Parker and Reid both said good bye to the Swans following last year’s grand final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Parker, in particular, is a player who represented everything the Swans stood for across 14 seasons. He played with grit, determination and desperation, all qualities that saw him become a three-time best-and-fairest winner. It’s hard to replace that sort of inspiration in a locker room. And for many around the Swans, they’re still coming to terms with the fact that he won’t finish his career as a one-club player.

The majority of the Swans’ list is still in pretty good shape. Players like Angus Sheldrick and Dane Rampe might be at either end of their careers, but the ball is in their court with deals to be done if they want them. Other tough calls surround contracts for the likes of Jake Lloyd and Robbie Fox, while rookie-listed Aaron Francis and Joel Hamling might be on the chopping block.

The key is keeping the list stable. Chad Warner’s two-year extension helps massively, but West Coast and Fremantle will look a lot more appealing in 2028 if the Swans can’t get back into premiership contention.

Then there’s a player like Ollie Florent who signed a five-year extension just last season. He had played 130 consecutive games for the Swans before finding himself in the VFL last weekend. Will he be forced to rethink his future, considering his deal is until the end of 2029?

The Swans’ list was put together believing they’re currently in a premiership window. But injuries have exposed their depth with an admission from Cox that they are constantly looking for ways to improve.

Regular links with players like Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Charlie Curnow or Harry McKay highlight that the Swans remain an enticing prospect. However, a display of unity on the field and a renewed hunger to win won’t hurt their chances of landing a big fish this off-season.

Florent is set to spend a second-straight week in the VFL despite Cox making five changes to the AFL side. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE ORGANISATION

Within Swans’ HQ, their stability has long been a display of their strength.

Richard Colless and Andrew Pridham have been the club’s only two chairmen for over 30 years, championing Sydney’s plight in the face of a game that can still be very Victorian-centric.

But their success has also meant that, naturally, a lot of clubs want to follow the same formula. And that has seen several key figures leave in recent seasons.

Charlie Gardiner departed the football manager role to return to Melbourne, before taking up the same role at Collingwood this season.

Charlie Gardiner was Longmire’s right-hand man during his time as general manager of the Swans’ football program. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Simon Dalrymple, the club’s national recruitment manager, left at the end of 2023 following six years at the club to take up a role with St Kilda. The similarly influential Kinnear Beatson has also taken more of a back seat position as a recruiter, with Chris Keane appointed as the head of list strategy.

While even in the strength and conditioning department, the highly-lauded Rob Inness moved to Carlton at the end of last season, with Shane Lehane becoming the club’s new head of athletic performance.

It’s several key pillars of the Swans’ success that have changed over the past two years, but the biggest could still be to come with CEO Tom Harley heavily linked with a new role at AFL House.

Harley is believed to be the front runner for the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer position, a gig that is likely set to see him become the heir-apparent for Andrew Dillon as AFL CEO.

Tom Harley has taken Sydney’s success to new levels, but is now on track to become part of the AFL Executive. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The former Geelong captain has been integral in growing the game in Sydney, even as far back as his time as AFL NSW/ACT CEO. But if he is to depart the Swans, it would be the biggest blow yet to the club’s stability.

“Tom’s been an unbelievable supporter of me ever since I got to the footy club eight years ago,” Cox said. “And what he’s done for this football club has been significant. He’s had a massive impact on this club.

“You can see why the AFL are chasing him or wanting to talk to him about a position there because of how highly he’s regarded, not only in the four walls of our footy club, but everywhere.”

But it’s not just Harley, even Pridham has been suggested as a potential target to eventually succeed Richard Goyder as chairman of the AFL Commission.

The Swans will right the ship as they always do; it’s part of what has made the club so successful for so long.

But with seismic shifts across all three parts of the club’s foundations over the past two years, their rocky start to the 2025 season is no surprise, as they desperately search for some dependable on-field form once again.