6-0. They are the numbers Michael Jordan idolizers and worshipers continually throw up in an effort to be a debate ender whenever someone dare suggest LeBron James, or anyone else for that matter, has claims to being the greatest basketball player to ever live.
Of course, it refers to Jordan's unblemished record in the NBA finals, a contrast to James' 4-6 mark in American basketball's showpiece series. Bizarrely, James almost never receives extra credit for reaching the decider a record 10 times. In fact, many actually penalise him for falling at the final hurdle, instead of earlier on in the playoffs, as Jordan did on nine occasions.
Winning the ultimate prize is why we watch and play sports, but often far too much stock is placed on one series, game, or moment, and not the path walked to get there.
Outgoing Sydney coach John Longmire will be widely remembered for his 1-4 record in AFL Grand Finals. And after the Swans' horror showing in the 2024 decider against Brisbane, some argued that number had become a blight on his coaching resume. But by such logic, would Longmire have built a greater legacy by winning that first flag in 2012 and never returning to the 'big dance'? Would he, or should he, be viewed as a greater coach if he had won that premiership and sailed off into the distance? Much like James in the NBA, Longmire is penalised, not commended, for near unrivalled consistent excellence. That is a flatly backwards approach to assessing greatness.
And it's for that reason Longmire's name is often absent from the greatest modern day coach discussions. But there's really no question the long-time Swans gaffer belongs alongside the likes of Alastair Clarkson, Chris Scott, and Damien Hardwick, coaches that have shaped and redefined the post-2000 football era.
Not only has Longmire led Sydney to five Grand Finals since taking the reins and inheriting a wave of expectation from Paul Roos ahead of season 2011, he, along with Scott at the Cats, has been a poster boy for sustained modern-day success. Under his expert tutelage, the Swans' coaching transition was seamless. They never bottomed out and almost always entered a season among the handful of legitimate premiership fancies.
In nine of Longmire's 14 years at Sydney, he finished with at least 15 wins. Only twice has he ended a campaign with a record below .500, also the only two years his squads didn't compete in finals.
Longmire finishes up his coaching tenure at the Swans with a 62.91 win percentage, only trailing current coaches Craig McRae (68.92%) and Scott (68.11%). It's a mark that's higher than Clarkson, Hardwick, and Ross Lyon. In fact, the only coaches in league history to take their teams to five or more Grand Finals while boasting a better win rate are icons Dick Reynolds, Jock McHale, Frank Hughes, and Tom Hafey.
"I didn't know [after the 2024 Grand Final]. I wasn't 100% sure," Longmire told reporters at a media conference in Sydney. "Sometimes you just need a bit of time to work it out. My last game as a player was a premiership, and I pulled the pin after that. I just felt like I needed to stop and rest and reset and regenerate. And it's very hard to do that when you're coaching and so I didn't know at that particular point in time."
Achieving such success outside the AFL heartland of Victoria also cannot be overstated and certainly mustn't be overlooked when assessing Longmire's coaching legacy. Since walking through the Moore Park gates, Longmire has epitomized the 'Bloods' culture, ensuring the club remains relevant and profitable in rugby league-mad Sydney through a combination of savvy on and off-field recruiting. Now, he steps aside as the Swans' longest-tenured coach.
"Our club is very fortunate to have enjoyed the services of one of the AFL's most successful coaches," said Swans chairman Andrew Pridham. "John has been more than just a great senior men's team coach for us. He has always had a whole-of-club outlook and has been instrumental in our ability to consistently compete at the highest level over the past two decades, in what is a highly competitive and equalised competition."
The aforementioned 1-4 record in Grand Finals will be what many remember of Longmire, but instead, it should be the five Grand Finals he led them to. After all, premierships aren't wildly celebrated because they're easy to win. They're even more difficult to win for sides who aren't as fortunate to call the MCG home.
Sure, the last two Grand Final appearances have been diabolical, a combined losing margin of 141 points underscores that, but perhaps a focus on the journey, rather than the outcome, is required. You can make a very strong case no side has been better over the last three years.
"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," said Longmire. "I thought, if I'm going to do it, probably now is the time to do it."
For the Swans, it now enters the Dean Cox era. The former West Coast ruck and long-time right-hand-man to Longmire promoted to senior coach on a four year contract, and much like when Longmire took over from Roos in 2011, there will be a mountain of expectation on his shoulders. Meanwhile, Longmire will move into the role of executive director of club performance.
If Longmire never coached again, he's already built a Hall of Fame-worthy resume. He's a premiership player, premiership coach, Coleman Medal winner, and boasts over 500 games across his playing and coaching career. But don't rule out him adding to that legacy.
The AFL will be desperate for Tasmania to secure an experienced coach when it enters the competition in 2028, and Longmire, someone who has a proven track record of succeeding outside Victoria, would almost be the league's No. 1 draft pick.