The Essendon coaching search is edging closer towards the final decision, with Mark McVeigh and James Hird the front-runners for the top job.

John Longmire joined 3AW Football and had his say on the Essendon coaching search, praising one of the candidates, saying “if he’s not ready now, he’ll never be ready.”

“He knows football, he knows how to keep and set standards,” Longmire said.

Press PLAY to listen to the FULL chat with John Longmire

Matthew Lloyd questioned on whether he’d return to help out Essendon

Who Caroline Wilson thinks is the ‘clear frontrunner’ for the Essendon coaching role

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