Sydney coach John Longmire's slip of the tongue has added further intrigue to his AFL future as North Melbourne hover.
After Longmire's manager Liam Pickering confirmed last week that the Kangaroos have been in touch, the Swans coach was asked several questions on Monday night about where he will be next season.
"I'm absolutely contracted to the Nor ... to the Sydney Swans Football Club. I have been there for 18 years, my commitment to this football club is very strong," Longmire told AFL360.
It was put to Longmire that Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson had put paid to speculation about his future by firmly declaring his intention to stay.
"I've had contracts for 18 years, almost," Longmire said of his time at Sydney.
"I'm not sure there have been too many at any football club who have been at the one club for 18 years.
"My level of commitment speaks for itself."
Longmire was asked why he had not responded to North about his intentions.
"That's on the assumption that they have (enquired)," Longmire said.
"I've been mindful of concentrating on my job at hand."
Longmire's interview will feed the growing speculation about where the North premiership player will be next season.
Former Brisbane player Jonathan Brown told On The Couch that Longmire's comments left the situation "as clear as mud".
Paul Roos, who handed over the Sydney coaching job to Longmire, is also confused.
"Perhaps, (Swans chief executive) Tom Harley, John Longmire and (chairman) Andrew Pridham have gotten together and said 'we're not discussing contracts', because otherwise it didn't make sense to me," Roos said.
"He had an opportunity to knock it fairly and squarely on the head and went down the party line."
Complicating the situation is the sterling job that North caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw is doing since taking over last month from Brad Scott.
The Kangaroos are 3-1 under Shaw and coming off an outstanding win over second-placed Collingwood.
But North great Wayne Carey wants a call on their coach to be left until the end of the season.
"If they keep winning, it's going to be hard to say to him 'you havent't got the job," Carey told Channel Seven's Talking Footy.
"I would love him to get the job - he's a ripping guy and he's clearly getting the right response out of this team.
"But it's far too premature right now - we're talking about five games."
"You have to let him coach the rest of the year out ... let's just take a deep breath, let's make a calculated decision then."
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