Tom Lonergan (Australian footballer)

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Tom Lonergan
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Personal information
Full name Tom Lonergan
Date of Birth May 17, 1984 (1984-05-17) (age 24)
Place of Birth
Recruited from Yarrawonga / Calder U18
Draft 23rd overall, 2002
Geelong Cats
50th overall, 2006 Rookie draft
Geelong Cats
Height/Weight 197cm / 97kg
Playing Career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2003 – Geelong 8 (8)
¹ Club statistics to end of Round 10, 2008 season
² Representative statistics to end of {{{repstatsend}}}

Tom Lonergan (born May 17, 1984) is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club of the Australian Football League.

Contents

[edit] Career

Geelong acquired the tall forward from Calder Cannons in the second round of the 2002 AFL Draft. After spending two years in the club's VFL side, Lonergan made his AFL debut in Round 9 of the 2005 season.

On August 26, 2006, playing in his seventh senior game, Lonergan suffered a serious internal injury in Round 21 of the 2006 season, a drawn game against Melbourne. He was unintentionally hit hard in the ribs while backing into a contest and taking a coragous mark during the fourth quarter.[1] He was taken to hospital and had his right kidney removed, as well as being placed in an induced coma.[2]

Lonergan was delisted by Geelong at the end of the 2006 season, but was then redrafted by the club as a rookie. The club is reported to have taken this decision to help Lonergan if he wished to continue his career. Lonergan himself considered retirement following the surgery, but opted to return. Club doctor Chris Bradshaw compared Lonergan's efforts to return to professional sport with those of Jason McCartney, who was injured in the 2002 Bali Bombing before playing one final game.[3]

Lonergan made his return to the sport on June 17, 2007, playing for Geelong's VFL team against Tasmania. He played the second half of each quarter, kicking one behind, as well as marking five times and making ten disposals. Speaking to reporters after the match, he indicated that he had no time-line for returning to the top league, but fully intended to do so.[4] He had previously remarked on the unusual nature of his injury, claiming that it was a very different feeling to having damaged a joint or a limb.[5]

To cap a fairytale return to football Lonergan played in the 126-52 VFL Grand Final win over the Coburg Tigers kicking six goals earning him the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground. As a result of his strong form and full recovery from his injuries, Lonergan was elevated to Geelong's senior list for the 2008 AFL Premiership Season.

Following his injuries, Lonergan became an ambassador for Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation, an organisation raising awareness of organ donation. The Geelong senior side wore rainbow-coloured laces (the symbol of the foundation) in their boots during their match against the Brisbane Lions immediately following Lonergan's VFL match.[6] Lonergan was in fact wearing rainbow laces during the match in which he was injured.[7]

[edit] Statistics

Statistics are correct as of Round 10, 2008 season
Season Team No. Games Goals Behinds Kicks Marks Handballs Disposals
2005 Geelong 13 4 5 3 13 12 12 25
2006 Geelong 13 3 1 2 17 12 7 24
2007 Geelong 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008 Geelong 13 1 2 3 7 3 0 7
Totals 8 8 8 37 27 19 56

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lonergan hospitalised, AFL.com.au. Retrieved on August 27, 2006.
  2. ^ Cats Cheer Lonergan's VFL comeback Realfooty.com.au Retrieved June 17, 2007
  3. ^ Cats Cheer Lonergan's VFL comeback Realfooty.com.au Retrieved June 17, 2007
  4. ^ Lonergan returns to football sans kidney TheAge.com.au Retrieved June 17, 2007
  5. ^ Lucky Tom at end of rainbow News.com.au Retrieved June 17, 2007
  6. ^ Lucky Tom at end of rainbow News.com.au Retrieved June 17, 2007
  7. ^ Tom Cat's new goal Geelongadvertiser.com.au Retrieved June 17, 2007

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Geelong Football Club – current squad

1 Davenport • 2 Harley • 3 Bartel • 4 Mackie • 5 Varcoe • 6 Ottens • 7 Taylor • 8 Hunt • 9 Kelly • 10 Tenace • 11 Corey • 12 West • 13 Lonergan • 14 Selwood • 15 Gamble • 16 D. Simpson • 17 Byrnes • 18 Djerrkura • 19 Egan • 20 S. Johnson • 21 Mooney • 22 S. Simpson • 23 N. Ablett • 24 Blake • 25 Donohue • 26 Hawkins • 27 Stokes • 28 D. Johnson • 29 G. Ablett • 30 Scarlett • 31 McKenna • 32 Prismall • 33 Rooke • 34 Hogan • 35 Chapman • 36 Moles* • 37 Laidler* • 38 Kangars* • 39 Milburn • 40 Wojcinski • 41 Mumford* • 42 Bedford* • 44 Enright • 45 Ling • Coach: Thompson

* denotes Rookie Listed players