The Sydney Swans are pleased to announce that Senior Coach, John Longmire, and exciting young key forward Sam Reid have both signed contract extensions with the Club.
Longmire, who took the helm in September 2010, will remain with the Club until at least the end of 2014.
Reid, who is soon to turn 20, had a year to run on his existing contract and has extended his agreement for a further five years, which will see his career continue in the red and white until at least the end of the 2017 season.
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Sydney Swans CEO, Andrew Ireland, said Longmire had excelled in his first year as Senior Coach, leading the team to sixth on the ladder, an away final win over St Kilda, and the only team to beat both Geelong in Geelong and West Coast in Perth.
“John settled quickly into his new role which made for a very smooth transition for everyone at the Club. He has a wonderful work ethic and strong relationships with players, staff and external stakeholders and we are really happy with the job he has done so far,’’ Ireland said.
“We are very pleased that John has agreed to extend his contract. We believe we have a promising list and that John is the right person to guide the Swans as we enter a new era in Sydney and in the AFL.”
The winner of the Swans Rising Star Award in 2011, Reid led the Club for contested marks, finished second on the goal kicking table and won an AFL Rising Star nomination for his round 12 performance against Richmond.
Reid said continuing his career with the Swans was a relatively simple decision.
“In the end it was a decision about enjoying my footy. I enjoy the lifestyle here in Sydney and I have a great group of teammates and coaches here at the Swans,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed my first two seasons here at the Club and I look forward to playing some good footy in the red and white for years to come.”
Reid is from the country Victorian town of Bright and was recruited by the Swans from the Murray Bushrangers with pick 38 in the 2009 National Draft.
He made his AFL debut against the Brisbane Lions in round 22, 2010 and went on to play all but one senior match during the 2011 season.
Swans coach John Longmire said Reid had shown a great deal of promise in his first two seasons with the Club and he was rapt that he had decided to re-commit to the Swans.
“Sam is certainly one of the most exciting key position prospects that has come through the Club in my time,” he said.
“Centre-half-forward is one of the toughest positions on the ground to play. To do it like Sam did this season, as a 19-year old, just shows the potential he has to have a long and successful career at this football Club.”
Five players including Luke Parker and Alex Johnson made their AFL debuts in 2011 as Longmire melded together the senior Swans players and the band of exciting youngsters who have come to the Club in the past two years.
“I’m really excited about our playing list and the young group coming through,” Longmire said.
“They are going to play a lot of footy together and it was fantastic to see how well they worked in with our experienced and senior players this year. It’s great to have the opportunity to work with the players for at least another three years.”
Another six new players came to the Club through the trade period in October and the AFL Draft in November, and Longmire has high hopes that they will fit in well.
“We’re excited by the likes of draftees Tom Mitchell and Jordan Lockyer, and can’t wait to see big Irishman Tommy Walsh play his first game of AFL footy. There is a lot to look forward to here at the Swans and we’re all working hard this pre-season to build on 2011,’’ he said.
