Simon Goodwin, just the fourth premiership coach in the fabled history of the Melbourne Demons, has been sacked with immediate effect, after a miserable 2025 campaign.
A victory over the cellar-dwelling West Coast Eagles was ultimately not enough to extend the tenure of the 2021 premiership coach, just a week after being on the wrong side of the largest overturned three-quarter-time deficit in V/AFL history.
The code's oldest club will now begin its search for its 32nd head coach, but just who is in the running?
3. John Longmire
Simpson's fellow AFL360 analyst, 2012 premiership coach John Longmire, is also a name certain to feature in discussions.
'Horse' stepped into the role of Executive Director of Club Performance at Sydney, following a succession plan that saw Dean Cox replace him as the Swans' figurehead. The re-shuffle came after a second humiliatingly heavy grand final loss in three years, in 2024.
The consistency of the Swans' ladder finishes under Longmire is incredible - 12 finals appearances in 14 years, which speaks volumes of his bona fides. Just one win from five attempts on the biggest stage, however, taints his legacy. A chance to rectify this unfortunate record is sure to spur the veteran coach to another tilt, but his lack of distance from the Swans since stepping down from that senior coaching position, could count against him.
Premierships carry significant weight on one's footballing resume, and despite their shortcomings, it's not a stretch to suggest that Simpson and Longmire can cherry-pick their next appointments. The Demons will be hoping the bones of their program appeal to either, or both, of the 1999 premiership teammates.
