Former Demons captain Garry Lyon also said the embattled club must be clear on whether they are contending or rebuilding, otherwise certain candidates will not be interested.
Melbourne's decision to sack Simon Goodwin comes as fellow premiership coaches Longmire and Adam Simpson weigh up their futures.
But Lyon, a prominent AFL commentator, said going for experience might not be the answer.
"I don't think you'd rule anything in or out," Lyon said on AFL360.
"If you rule in or out, you miss out on (Chris) Fagan, you miss out on the first-year (Craig) McRae or miss out on someone having a second go at it.
"It's a really hard one."
Lyon was also not sure he agreed with interim president Brad Green and Goodwin, who think Melbourne can still contend again soon.
"If you're selling the wrong message to a coach, the smart coach is saying 'Why would I go to that group, where the expectation is so out of alignment (with) where the list is at?" Lyon said.
"They're in transition and flux."
The Demons became the first AFL club to axe their senior coach this year, just three games before the end of the home and away season.
After an equally disappointing campaign to Melbourne's, Carlton will consider acting on their under-fire coach Michael Voss.
The Blues have made it clear Voss is safe until the end of the season, but he is no guarantee to see out the final year of his contract in 2026.
Simpson was sacked by West Coast last year, following a painful final three seasons in charge.
But Simpson did lead the Eagles to the 2018 premiership, as well as taking them to a losing grand final in just his second season.
Longmire, Simpson's former North Melbourne teammate, is in a similar position after stepping down as Sydney coach last September.
Unlike Simpson, who departed a club on the bottom of the ladder, Longmire's final game in charge was the Swans' grand final defeat to the Brisbane Lions last September.
ormer Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has also been working in the media since leaving the Magpies in 2021, but has never ruled out a return to clubland.
Then there is 58-year-old Ken Hinkley, who is three games away from handing over the Port Adelaide coaching job to Josh Carr as part of a succession plan.
Melbourne assistant Troy Chaplin will be interim coach for the final three games of the season, but would be unlikely to win the role full-time.
Green was determined not to immediately address Melbourne's search for their next coach, after the board on Monday night decided to sack Goodwin.
Goodwin, the former dual premiership Adelaide champion, graciously attended the press conference to talk about his sacking, with a year to run on his contract.
A deflated and disappointed Goodwin sat next to Green in the media centre at the MCG.
When asked multiple questions about Melbourne's future coaching plans, Green refused to comment out of respect for Goodwin.
"I'm not going to sit here and speculate and speak about that while Simon's here," Green said.
"We still believe we've got a list that we should be playing finals."