Why King thinks Longmire is the “number one man” that Tasmania should target as coach

David King believes that John Longmire’s call to leave Sydney as coach after 14 seasons is a great decision.

King, who was teammates with Longmire for six seasons at North Melbourne, originally felt that Longmire was going to go around again for one more campaign in 2025 having taken the Swans to a minor premiership and Grand Final appearance in 2024.

While Longmire’s leaving at the peak of his powers, King thinks that this is the perfect time for the 53-year-old to refresh as he moves into a new role as Sydney’s Executive Director of Club Performance. 

“I thought he had 12 more months at Sydney and was probably going to go to 2025 and then have a break,” King told SEN Breakfast.

“That was the whisper sort of mid-year this year, but having them go so well, he sort of stepped forward.

“But I think it's a great decision, it gives him a chance to refresh.”

With his 2025 plans sorted, King thinks that Longmire is the best available candidate for the Tasmania Football Club coaching role with the competition’s 19th franchise set to enter the competition in 2028.

“I mean, if you're looking to set up the Tasmania Football Club right now, he is the number one man,” King said.

“He's the most qualified coach we've seen that's on the sidelines at the moment.

“They’ve got some good candidates, but a refreshed John Longmire … that would be hard to beat.”

The last team to enter the AFL was GWS in 2012. The Giants announced that Kevin Sheedy would be their inaugural coach in November 2009.

If Tasmania follow the same blueprint, they could announce their inaugural coach late in 2025 to allow them time to help set up the club ahead of their 2028 admission.