Coach John Longmire says he’s “dismayed” by the continued criticism of Sydney’s cost-of-living allowance from rival AFL clubs.
Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon last week sparked a war of words with Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland when he linked the COLA to the recruitment of superstars Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett and accused the club of “testing the rules”.
It followed a veiled swipe from outgoing Carlton chief executive Greg Swann who, after last Thursday’s 110-point win over Geelong, said the best way for rivals to compete with the odds-on premiership favourites would be to “give us all an (extra) million bucks and we might be a chance”.
While the AFL is set to replace the Swans’ and GWS’s allowance with rent subsidies under soon-to-be-announced equalisation measures, the debate has irked Longmire.
“I do get a little bit dismayed at times when clubs – and this is a personal view more than anything – offer really strong views on other clubs and how they should or shouldn’t go about their business,” he told reporters on Monday.
“I just think we just (need to) keep concentrating on what we do, keep worrying about ourselves.
“I haven’t got enough time as a head coach to be worrying about what every other club does – I find it difficult enough to be able to concern myself with what the Swans do.”
The 2012 premiers sit third on the AFL ladder with six straight wins ahead of Sunday’s crucial away clash with Gold Coast.
Longmire brushed off suggestions his side’s success was in any way connected to its COLA privileges or the mere talent of a select few, attributing it purely to the consistent effort of his squad.
“Our players work really hard at what they do – but other clubs clearly have different opinions on that,” he said.
“Our discipline and work-rate when the opposition have got the ball and the ability to stick to our structures are the things that really help us win games of football.
“They were of really high standard last week (against the Cats)… and I don’t think it’s too much to suggest that anything other than that is something that you don’t expect to win games of footy with.”
