Sydney players can see the lighter side of John Longmire's contract kerfuffle, especially after their AFL coach's headline-grabbing gaffe.
Longmire is contracted to the Swans until the end of the 2020 season but a lucrative offer from North Melbourne could prompt the widely-respected mentor to ask for an early release.
There is nothing to suggest Longmire is seriously contemplating such a shift; the expectation being he will sign a new deal with Sydney soon.
But the 2012 premiership mentor has declined multiple chances to categorically rule out the prospect of joining the Kangaroos, who he played 200 games for.
Longmire has said as little as possible about North's interest since Brad Scott's departure but he fired back when grilled on Fox Footy earlier this week, only to slip up.
Longmire declared he was "absolutely contracted to the North", quickly correcting himself that it was "to the Sydney Swans football club".
Swans co-captain Dane Rampe, having copped plenty of stick at the club for his goal-post antics earlier this season, couldn't resist having a dig.
"Obviously his slip of the tongue was pretty funny. The boys enjoyed that," Swans defender Nick Smith said.
"Rampe, who's had a few of his (own) slip-ups, it's a bit ironic but (he was like) 'what's going on there?'.
"Who knows what's going to happen. I have no idea but all I do know is the club is committed this year. Horse (Longmire) is committed, the players are committed.
"Nobody's more committed than John. You can see his passion on the bench."
Small forward Tom Papley told AAP last week that he'd be "very surprised" if Longmire leaves the club.
"He knows we've got a really good young list ... but that's up to him," Papley said.
"He's a great coach."
Paul Roos, Longmire's predecessor as Swans coach, has also tipped his protege will remain at the SCG.
