View Full Version : 36. Sam Lonergan
HULK HOGAN
13 Jul 2008, 11:22
This weeks rising star?
After that effort last night he should definately be the rising star.
What an effort to come back on the ground and work as hard as he did Priceless!!!
rushing through that concussion test on the bench to get back on what a man.
But the way he got concussed impressed me the most no way this boy will shirk an issue thats good old fashioned BOMBER SPIRIT!!!!!!
Lance Uppercut
13 Jul 2008, 12:25
what a gun!
what a gun!
I know! He aced the concussion test!
And his game wasn't bad....;)
Darealrath
13 Jul 2008, 12:49
He's so tenacious around the footy.
go_the_bombers
13 Jul 2008, 16:02
His hardness around the contest has been greatly under estimated by a lot of people over the last 5 weeks. One of the key reasons why we have been able to play better footy. He does not rack up huge numbers but he puts a lot of pressure on in close.
Well put ant :thumbsu:
Love watching Sam play
Ryder Is God
13 Jul 2008, 16:54
Sam Lonergun.
Sam Lonergun.
totally agree
SAM Lonergan had that awful sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
The Essendon midfielder was sprinting across Telstra Dome and away from Western Bulldog Lindsay Gilbee in Round 4 when his football career flashed before him.
Lonergan tore his right hamstring. Badly.
Injuries and form had restricted the 21-year-old Tasmanian to one senior game in the previous two years at Windy Hill and he limped to the interchange bench not knowing if he would return.
Combined with the fact he was not drafted by the Bombers until pick 50 in the 2005 national draft and the panic button was within reach.
"When it first happened and I realised it was a hammy, the disappointment hit me straight away," Lonergan said.
"But the worst part was walking down the race realising I was gone for at least three to four weeks.
"Mentally, coming back from the other injuries last year and having played three consistent games and finally starting to find my feet, knowing you're going to miss another four weeks was tough."
Lonergan knew 2008 would determine the course of his life. Offered a one-year contract extension during summer, it was the ultimate make-or-break season.
So when his hamstring tore for the first time, Lonergan was at his lowest ebb. It would be several days until the physical pain subsided, but the mental path back to full confidence started almost instantly.
"After the initial five to 10-minute period and then sitting back down on the boundary line, I sort of forgot about it and got caught up in the game again and did as much as I could to help the boys," said Lonergan of the loss to the Bulldogs.
Coach Matthew Knights, himself only a few games into his AFL coaching career, calmed the youngster's nerves when all appeared lost.
"It's amazing the amount of people the club employs to really zone-in on those areas and help you through it," Lonergan said.
"But at the end of the day, the most promising thing is talking to the head coach, and as long as he's positive, like Matthew was, it sets you in the right direction.
"It's the feedback and the positive voice, that important voice that looks over your career and guides you through it, and he did that remarkably well when I was going through that four-week period."
Surrounded by Knights' positive energy, and the belief born from the first three rounds that he could cut it at the highest level, it was only a matter of time before Lonergan returned to the side.
"You have an understanding of your own ability and whether you can play at that level," he said.
"The most important thing for me in those first three rounds was knowing I could play AFL and that I had the intensity to do so over a longer period of time.
"With any injury you start to pull your hair out at times, but everyone goes through them and it makes your journey that much more exciting. You enjoy what you've actually done and the hard work you've done to get there."
Lonergan returned from the hamstring injury against Sydney at Telstra Stadium in Round 8 and has not looked back, playing every game since.
Fourteen rounds into the 2008 season, the kid who could manage only one game in two years has played 11 this year and is contributing.
Lonergan's 44 tackles rank equal first at Essendon. Not bad considering the joint leader, midfielder Brent Stanton, has played three more matches.
"I'm pretty happy at this stage. I've developed a lot this year ... so I'm pretty happy, but there's still a long way to go," Lonergan said.
"Getting the one-year contract, it was my make-or-break year, I guess. I think this year I've come out and maybe made for another couple of years at least."
Tonight Lonergan faces the Brisbane Lions at Telstra Dome as a changed man in a reborn Essendon outfit on a three-game winning streak.
When draft-pick order once meant everything, the wiser Bomber now knows there is only one ingredient required to succeed at the highest level.
"It's amazing how much people look back to what draft-pick number you were and whether you were top 10 or top 20," Lonergan said.
"But once you get to the club and get some good guidance from senior players and help and support, the pick number goes out the window.
"Anyone can get there as long as you're willing to work hard."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24005355-19764,00.html
makes the hard stuff around the stoppages look easy.
he is a vital part of our midfield. especially whilst sloppy and buddha aren't ready for senior footy
Great game again. Hopefully his first goal of the game will give him more confidence going forward with his goal kicking. Saw the same thing with Stantons kicking for goal over the last few years.
Great under packs. Go Lonergun.
Overdue for a RS nom... but isn't a media darling so probaly wont get one.
Media have been talking him up the last two weeks.
The Dustbin
17 Jul 2008, 23:08
A good game against Rich, should be enough for a RS nom. Geez he's a tough little bugger around the stoppages and shown he can go forward and kick goals.
Coming along very very nicely.:thumbsu:
dirtywhitepacker
22 Jul 2008, 16:57
Overdue for a RS nom... but isn't a media darling so probaly wont get one.
I thought he wasn't eligible. As he is now into his third season of AFL footy...
the requirements have to do with age and number of games. he is eligible. the number of seasons played doesn't come into it
Bombers42
26 Jul 2008, 21:04
Just quietly, i think Lonergan is going to be a real gun form the signs his showing.
Mr Mosquito
27 Jul 2008, 16:19
IMO sammy is well on the way to being one of the great midfielders in the league....he is one of the toughest players we have had for a long time
- he uses the ball well
- he wins in an under ball
-he is fast and has endurance
-has great ability to break away from backs
I dont think we have had a player of this style for some time....a player who is consistently good...ie lockyer...sammy will be better over time though
you opinons.....
eth-dog
27 Jul 2008, 16:21
agreed, will be very handy in the midfield
daniher dynasty
27 Jul 2008, 16:29
Could not agree more- Sam would have to be in the running for most improved Bomber player of 2008. His work in close has been are real eye opener, both getting hands on hard ball but even more importantlybeing able to get it to players in motion as opposed to shoveling it to another player under the pump. At present though he's still at the potential rather than actual stage in terms of being a real A grader - may just need to get a liitle bit more run into his game , although he has improved in the last couple of weeks in slipping forward and creating an extra goal kicking option.
Smyth94
27 Jul 2008, 17:20
I think he can be every bit as good as Sammy Mitchell in a few years time
Darealrath
27 Jul 2008, 21:12
-has great ability to break away from packs
This is one part of his game that keeps surprising me. :thumbsu:
HighettBomber
27 Jul 2008, 22:14
He just keeps getting better. Fantastic game against the pies, his clearance work and tackling are first rate and he has been linking up more and more often. I don't reckon he's too far away from some 30+ possession games, which he needs to acheive if he wants to be an A grader.
CarlosHernandez
28 Jul 2008, 12:49
Always at the bottom of the packs, but also has the ability to work his way through traffic and break free from the contest.
A real surprise for me this year!
stander
28 Jul 2008, 20:56
This is one part of his game that keeps surprising me. :thumbsu:
I like the way he can find the extra half metre just as he's about to be tackled. It looks like he's going flat chat, but slips his opponent just as the tackle is about to be laid.
he'll just keep flying under the radar. one of the main reasons our midfield isn't getting smashed anymore
warney7
31 Jul 2008, 00:12
I love it when he cuts back inside 2 opponents.
He did it against Brisbane off half back which led to a Laycock mark and goal.
And again against Collingwood, ducked back inboard between 2, the start of the play that led to the goal by NLM to give us a big advantage in the 3rd quarter.
Massively underrated, and I still believe losing him against the Dogs was as much a reason for the loss as losing Mark McVeigh.
I'd like to think I've got a good seat on this bandwagon, while the Reimers bandwagon is at breaking point!
High Ryder
14 Aug 2008, 22:09
An absolute gun and a monty for the rising star if he won more "easy" footy". Will be our number 1 inside mid by next yrs end.
Ryder Is God
14 Aug 2008, 22:28
I love it when he's got 2 or 3 defenders hanging onto him but he manages to dish it off.
loopy_cam
14 Aug 2008, 23:49
An absolute gun and a monty for the rising star if he won more "easy" footy". Will be our number 1 inside mid by next yrs end.
Ahead of Jobe. That'd be super.
i'm sure he is enjoying flying under the radar. this kid is gonna be a freak come next year
kelvin_sheedy
31 Aug 2008, 23:10
I think we've found one.
Ryder Is God
31 Aug 2008, 23:13
My favourite player.
bipolarbeaR
1 Sep 2008, 12:00
Lonergan is the man :D
23 possessions yesterday!
was our best player yesterday. has surpassed jobe as our best player around the stoppages. surely he must get nominated for the rising star this week
Crumpler83
1 Sep 2008, 19:07
What a great year for Sam.
Unsighted and his future up in the air at the start of the season and now he is cemented in our best 22 and I would go so far as to say that he is now one of our most important players.
Has become my favourite player over this season too. Love the way he goes about it. :thumbsu:
My favourite player.
He's behind Selwood for mine.
but only just;)
Should improve another 10% next year with a pre-season under him.
HighettBomber
5 Sep 2008, 18:08
It was a disgrace that he didn't get a rising star nomination, he should have come third at worst given his consistent high level of oputput. He was regularly one of the top clearance players on the ground, and always seemed to have an influence. Itr will be interesting to see where he c omes in our B&F, top 10 I would think.
not necessarily a bad thing to fly under the radar
Slattery_20
6 Sep 2008, 16:16
Who GAF about that award?
Littered with man-children who improved little after bursting onto the scene - Hasleby, Scott, Nick Holland, Koschitzke, Jared Rivers
Lonergan has lots of upside in his game. He needs to build his endurance and play 80 to 85% of the game instead of 65 to 70%. He also needs to win more uncontested ball.
I would expect Lonergan to poll best in the B and F of all the 3 year and under players on EFC's list.
i went to college with sammy, top bloke! and by **** can the kid play footy!
I have heard JJ would like him to wear 14 in 2009 and beyond
I have heard JJ would like him to wear 14 in 2009 and beyond
I'd prefer him to make a name for himself wearing 36 TBH. I can't imagine him wearing any other number.
Jonesy1987
7 Nov 2008, 22:42
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/fun_n_games/photos.asp?sp=2&vs=pre-season+2009&vp=&vr=&vy=&va=
Bottom of the page
He looks massive now
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/fun_n_games/photos.asp?sp=2&vs=pre-season+2009&vp=&vr=&vy=&va=
Bottom of the page
He looks massive now
Looks the same as last season IMO, massive
Jonesy1987
9 Nov 2008, 15:19
Looks the same as last season IMO, massive
I thought he definitely looked bigger around the biceps and shoulders