ESSENDON has lured Sydney premiership coach John Longmire to be the Bombers' new general manager of performance.
Longmire, who led the Swans to five Grand Finals before stepping down as head coach at the end of 2024, has worked at the Swans in various roles since 2002.
He will now work alongside former Swans assistant Mark McVeigh, who was unveiled as Essendon's new head coach last month.
"Having arrived at the Swans 25 years ago, this club has meant so much to me and my family," Longmire said.
"I will look back with extreme fondness of my time in Sydney and always be proud of what we achieved as a football club.
"Clearly, the 2012 premiership remains a highlight for me over the journey, as are the many finals appearances. However, I will also cherish the challenging times that are presented to you when involved at the coalface of professional sport.
"I am really excited to be given this opportunity at Essendon working alongside Mark McVeigh and I’m looking forward to getting started."
In a statement, the Bombers said the newly-created role would "oversee game strategy, player development, leadership, the coaching group, performance analytics and strength and conditioning".
"John's football experience and leadership are exactly what we have been looking for in this role," Bombers CEO Tim Roberts said.
“We have made no secret of our ambition to build a football program capable of delivering sustained success, and bringing in someone of John's calibre is a significant investment in that goal.
"Over 14 seasons as senior coach of the Sydney Swans, John built a program that consistently competed at the pointy end, including the 2012 premiership and four further Grand Final appearances. He knows what a winning program looks like from the inside and how to sustain it year after year.
"Just as importantly, John will be an enormous asset to Mark McVeigh. Very few people understand the demands of the senior coach role like John does and having someone of his experience alongside Mark to provide support, guidance and a sounding board will allow Mark to focus on coaching and developing our players."
More to come