Why Matthew Lloyd is confident Dean Cox will turn down Eagles top job
Matthew Lloyd is confident that Swans assistant coach Dean Cox "will coach Sydney in a couple of years", meaning he will turn down a likely offer to lead West Coast.
It comes after Eagles coach Adam Simpson was axed last week, just six games before the end of the 2024 season.
The Eagles have confirmed their search for a new coach is well underway, with a handful of assistants across the league on their radar.
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Cox, who was a 2006 premiership player with the Eagles, is reportedly one of their top picks for the job.
But Lloyd isn't convinced that the Swans will let him go that easily, despite the club admitting they have no immediate succession plan that would see Cox take over from current coach John Longmire.
Dean Cox instructs players. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"My view is that Cox will coach Sydney in a couple of years," Lloyd said on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night.
If that is the case, the Swans may not re-sign Longmire after his contract finishes at the end of the 2025 season.
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"There's a chance that doesn't happen (that the Swans sign Longmire again)," Lloyd said.
"It's been 14 years (with Longmire in charge). Yes, he's on top of the ladder. But I don't think Dean Cox is staying if he's not sure it's going to be (him as the next Swans coach) in the near future."
9News Melbourne's chief football reporter Tom Morris echoed Lloyd's confidence in Cox's loyalty, declaring that the Swans are almost certain their assistant will stay in NSW.
"The Swans are very confident they can hold onto him," Morris said.
"Dean Cox is comfortable being at Sydney. The Swans are comfortable with Dean Cox being there.
"There's a broad acknowledgement that he is not going to pursue any gig at the West Coast Eagles. They believe he is staying.
Dean Cox is touted as Sydney's next coach, to replace John Longmire. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"It is not a succession plan, They think Cox is their next man and Cox knows this, it's just when that happens."
Other candidates for the Eagles top job include Carlton assistant Ash Hansen, Dockers assistant Jaymie Graham and Port Adelaide assistant Josh Carr.
Eagles assistant Jarrad Schofield has been named their interim coach until the end of the 2024 season.
