Premiership coaches John Longmire and Adam Simpson say they’re undecided on a potential return to the hot seat after the Blues position opened up.
Michael Voss’ resignation from Carlton marked the first coaching domino to fall in 2026 as Josh Fraser takes the reins for the remainder of the season.
Longmire and Simpson are seen as two of the best candidates on the market, if the Blues went down the route of picking an experienced coach.
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So, is Longmire ready to entertain a return to coaching?
“It’s not a simple yes or no answer. It’s not about that,” Longmire said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“For me, these things tend to become clear over a period of time. I’m happy to let that time play out.
“I understand the questioning and I understand there’s a bit of interest in it.
“But I’m not in the position at the moment in my own head to ascertain whether it’s a yes or no. I really don’t think it’s appropriate for me to say that if I don’t feel I’m ready to answer that.
“I’m in that situation at the moment. I know people would like a yes or no, but if you’re not in a situation to be able to provide that, you’re better off not doing it and letting time play out.
“That’s usually the way these things become clearer.”
McRae dismisses links with Carlton | 02:46
Asked if he would answer a call from the Blues specifically, Longmire was non-committal.
“I’m not into dealing with hypotheticals at the moment, I’m not into interested in what may or may not happen down the track,” Longmire added.
“As I said, I’ll let time play and these things become clear for everybody as time plays out.
“I’m pretty comfortable saying that and that’s the situation as it sits at the moment.”
Longmire is in his second season out of coaching after departing Sydney post the club’s 2024 Grand Final loss to Brisbane.
He said assuring a club is the right fit and that is has “alignment” among key posts across the board is crucial for any coach exploring an opportunity.
“Whether it’s from my perspective or anyone’s perspective in a coaching sense, it’s a big job,” Longmire said.
“I’ve been able to see it from a perspective that I coached here for 14 years at the Sydney Swans. I really understood what makes a good footy club and certainly a sustainable foot club that was able to stay around the top for a period of time.
“Those things are really important, whoever is going to jump into any coaching role at whatever club.
“Those things — the alignment across all the key people in the footy club in particular — is a really important factor in why someone would want to jump back into coaching or start their coaching journey.”
Carlton have first run out without Voss | 00:47
Simpson was a more definite no … for now.
But the 2018 Eagles premiership coach, who’s been working as a part-time coaching consultant at Ikon Park, admitted he doesn’t know how he might feel later in the year.
“I dunno. Today is a no, but what’s it like in 10, 14, 15 weeks?,” Simpson said on AFL 360.
“It’s weird to say, because people think there is an answer coming straight away, yes or no.
“I assuming there’s some career coaches out there that would be: ‘I’m a career coach, I will do coaching until the day I die’.
“But there’s a bit more depth, I suppose, to our lives and there’s a lot to work through.
“At the moment, no, but I don’t really know.”
Simpson added that is was a “big decision” with multiple factors at play.
“It feels weird saying no, but it’s no. That’s just the reality of how it is,” he said.
“I know people can perceive it as confusing, but it’s a big decision.
“To be: A, yeah I’m available. B, what’s the right fit? And C, where are you in your life?
“It’s not simple. This happened yesterday, and I’m still connected to some people at the club.
“So for the moment for me it’s a no.”
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