Key Quotes: John Longmire, Dean Cox & Andrew Pridham

On Tuesday, November 26 the Sydney Swans announced John Longmire would stand down from his role as senior coach.

See what he had to say alongside newly appointed senior coach Dean Cox and chairman Andrew Pridham in an afternoon press conference.

On the announcement

“Today is a momentous day in the history of the Sydney Swans. It is a day of reflection and celebration for what has been. It's also a day of optimism for what lies ahead under the leadership of Dean Cox.

“Last week, John Longmire advised Tom Harley and myself that after long and careful consideration, over the course of the year and subsequent to the end of the year, that he felt now was the right time to step down for himself and for the club. We respect this decision, but I must say it was a very courageous, and I know, difficult decision for John…”

On his change in role

“I'm very pleased that John has agreed to remain at the club in the role of Executive Director of Club Performance following his retirement as senior coach. This follows in a similar vein after the retirements of Ron Barassi and Paul Roos. John will report to Tom Harley and be responsible for implementing strategies that ensure the Sydney Swans remains a leading high-performance club, and the leading high-performance club in Australia.”

On Dean Cox’s appointment as senior coach

“As one door closes another opens, and I'm delighted that Dean Cox has been offered and accepted the position of Senior Coach of the Sydney Swans effective immediately for an initial contract term of four years.”

On the decision to step down

“I always thought that this would be my last contract at the Sydney Swans… I was fortunate this year to see the progression of the team play some of the best football we've ever seen at this footy club…We were playing in front of sold-out crowds every week. Membership was going berserk. The feeling at the SCG was enormous. I said to Tom at that point, I'm not sure whether I can get through to the end of next year.

“I really appreciate the time that Andrew and Tom gave me to think it through and to think what's best for myself and for the football club going forward. Whilst my head was trying to talk myself into going to the end of next year, my gut was saying that's about enough. It's time to rest, time to reflect on what I've been a part of to this point in time and re-energise.

“I always had a dream of making sure that I'd be able to hand the club over in as good a position as I could possibly do it. I was fortunate under Paul Roos to take the reins of a pretty good club. I also want to thank Richard Colless and Andrew Ireland - they played a big part in that.

On Dean Cox

“From the moment we met seven years ago we had a great bond, didn’t we? We got on really well and I enjoyed his company… I'm so pleased and proud to sit here with Coxy today and be cheering from the grandstands as he goes forward.”

On thanking the club’s supporters

“I want to thank our supporters who have been absolutely fantastic. So supportive of myself and the team, and so enthusiastic. This year was another level at the SCG - I've never seen anything like it. It was so exciting. I want to thank those people who were able to support us for so long. Hopefully we've given a bit back and given how we enjoy the ride as well.

“I want to thank the board, all the board and the CEOs that I've been under. I want to thank all the staff that I've worked with, coaches and footy department staff, commercial staff, the whole membership base, the whole football club, recruiters and Kinnear Beatson - I've had a wonderful relationship with him over a long time.”

On the playing groups

“I also want to thank, most importantly, the playing groups that I've been able to coach… I've been so fortunate to get to know so many generations of players that come through this club… Fortunately, I've got a great relationship with a lot of them to this day."

On if he knew that the Grand Final would be his last game

“I didn’t know. Sometimes you need just a bit of time to work it out… All I know is that halfway through the year and even before that, I was talking to Tom and Andrew. I felt like I needed to stop and rest and reset and regenerate. It's very hard to do that when you're coaching.

“I may have made the decision to not coach if we'd have won (the Grand Final) and maybe even got to that decision quicker. All I know is I was thinking about that long before then.”

On his new title

“I’ve been really interested in the club’s performance and clearly that’s my responsibility year in, year out. But I've always thought a bit broader than that. I was lucky I worked at IMG for a period of time and got a great grounding in a different feeling of my job there. I did some work at the Players Association. I've been fortunate enough to travel a lot overseas and I've just come back from another trip. [I’m] thinking about bigger picture things and I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into that.

“I'm certainly not involved in the day-to-day running with Coxy, that's his domain now, but I'm looking forward to building this footy club and making the most of this facility.”

On how he’s continued for so long

“I've been able to see generations come through. I don't think people really appreciate how hard it is, the AFL competition, with the draft and the salary cap and the draw. All the things are designed to play finals one year and be out the next.

“I've been fortunate that the players we've had before my time, and some of them are here today, have been great role models for the next group coming through. I've seen that firsthand."

On the Grand Final losses

“I think that’s just part of life, I think in the end I would have loved it, not for myself because I was always confident in what I can do…It's more about the people. It's more about the players. It's more about the staff. It's more about the supporters, your playing group.

“But that's part of sport. And what you can't underestimate is how hard it is to play finals every year and how difficult it is to be top four and how hard it is to get there. It's a real challenge.”

On AFL in NSW

“I was born in NSW and played footy for NSW and so that's one of the other drivers for me, is seeing the growth of the game up here, certainly at the high level. I think we've still got a bit of work to do at the community level but if you look at what's happening at the SCG, it's just extraordinary and so much fun and I take great pride in that.

“I think that the evolution of the game up here has been critical. It's the most competitive sporting market in the world. When I started in 2002, there was hardly a goalpost up here and now I go around and just take great pleasure in seeing a lot of the goalposts that are up and a lot of the schools are now playing the sport.”

On his appointment

“Seven years ago when I arrived - as an enemy for so many years - to be a part of the family now and to have the ability to be able to move forward as an organisation, I'm forever grateful for. I understand it's a huge responsibility, one I'm looking forward to and will do my best way possible.”

On John

“To John, to have a coach or to be involved in an organisation for so long and to have an impact like you have had is profound. I've been fortunate enough to see that firsthand.

“You've left a huge footprint on this organisation and will continue to do so. From a coaching point of view, you've been an amazing mentor, a great friend and hopefully I can continue to make you proud of this football club and this playing group.”

On the staff and player

“To the players and the staff, I'm really excited about the opportunity. You're all amazing people and that's what makes this club so great. Everyone tries to do their best for the common goal.”

On his development with the Swans

“I think one thing the footy club has always done is try and develop the people that are within it… We've had constant dialogue with the footy club and with John all the way through it. The opportunity that I was presented certainly towards the end of last year to be able to do the off-season, sit with John and go through the recruiting phase, draft, staff hiring process of getting a program ready and then the ability to be able to do it again this off-season. It's a testament to John to allow that to happen, to promote and help his people.”

On his decision to stay in Sydney

“Mine was a family decision. The ability to really enjoy where we are as a family and with the possibility of hopefully coaching this great club in one day. There was nothing documented. I told West Coast through the process once and that was it.”

On what he might do differently

“I think that's one thing that I'm extremely proud of this organisation is the sustainability of performing at the highest level. Our players produced some amazing football this year and it's something we're really proud of. We want to make sure that we can consistently do that.

“There'll be some little tweaks that I'll do differently than John, but overall it's a well-run footy program. It has been that for a long time and we'll make sure that we give the players the best chance that they can continually perform, improve and enjoy their time together whilst they're here.”