View Full Version : Lonergan's Future
HighettBomber
5 Apr 2010, 21:22
I've been a big Lonergan fan for a while, but at the moment I'm concerned about where he fits into our team. A couple of seasons ago he looked like becoming a very good midfielder, and he does play very well there in patches but he hasn't been able to build his endurance sufficiently to be a front liner.
He has some great attributes in that he has reasonable pace and makes good decisions, he is strong one on one in the air and on the ground, a good tackler and is a good kick in general play, though not so good when kicking for goal. His kicking for goal is, it seems to me, the major reason he has not really flourished as a forward.
I would like to see him tried in the back pocket. I think he has all the attributes to make him a very effective player there. We are often put to the sword by small forwards and i think Sam Lonergan is one p[layer we have who has all the attributes to fill this big hole in our team. I've never seen him played in defense, so i would be interested to hear if anyone else has, and what your thoughts are on this idea.
shape up or ship out, as was evidence against fremantle, we cant carry players. they either perform or they find a new home. Sick of constantly making excuses
Reading all the comments on here and on BB im starting notice that alot of people are wanting are midfielders to be put in the back pocket cause they arnt working in the midfield examples of these people are davey, reimers, mcveigh, welsh, dyson, hocking, houli and now lonergan. If this is the case, because clearly we cant have them all in the backline cause they cant play in the midfield maybe its time to do some serious trading or delisting because it is starting to get annoying that as soon as a midfielder who stops being effecting in the middle everybody wants them chucked down back.
He can play an in and under midfield role or forward pocket.
Longy413
6 Apr 2010, 07:45
Sadly - Probably at another club.
But he should be the one that replaces Watson when he goes off to rest or is getting tagged out of a game.
Sadly - Probably at another club.
But he should be the one that replaces Watson when he goes off to rest or is getting tagged out of a game.
I'd give that role to Myers.
Still big concerns about Lonergans tank or lack thereof, seems to blow up very quickly.
I wish more in our midfield showed the heart lonergan does.
gPhonque
6 Apr 2010, 12:14
Lonergan's a weird one. Often, I think he looks like our most natural midfielder.... almost like a smaller Jobe. Know what to do with it under pressure.... does some great things. He just seems to go missing quite a bit.
That said, I REALLY like the look of Lonergan. Him and Reimers are the two youngsters on our list I really enjoy watching. Just wish they were given more of a chance in the positions they should be playing in. (damn, Knights is really starting to remind me of Sheedy now....)
I'd persevere with Lonergan in the middle. Just let him play there and let him get a feel for it.
I think that Longergan will still get some games for us. He is very strong overhead and is a good enough kick. With our forward line not working that well he may get a shot in there again.
He should be in the team, as part of a midfield forward rotation. He is a very good mark overhead for his size, and is good under pressure. Would provide more then Davey/Williams/Myers. If they aren't going to play him trade him.
BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!
6 Apr 2010, 19:14
lonergan should replace mcviegh and remiers for welsh
lonergan should replace mcviegh and remiers for welsh
Would of thought lovett-murry would come for McVeigh and Welsh usually plays well against the Blues but Welsh being Vice-Captain we all know he wont get dropped so no matter how badly people want Welsh gone just stop because he wont due to be the VC.
Longy413
6 Apr 2010, 19:23
Doesn't NLM have another week?
Doesn't NLM have another week?
Nope Mcveigh got 1 week and lovett murry got 2 weeks and Hurley got 3 weeks. So Lovett-Murry's 2 weeks are done and Knights said that he will probably come in this week. Then Hurley for West Coast.
Longy413
6 Apr 2010, 19:33
Right you are.
Thanks.
Jivin Jackel
6 Apr 2010, 20:10
2 years ago I was a big fan, was expecting a bit more from him last year and didn't deliever. Still have faith in him, but this is a make or break year for him
in my mind. Has to take the next step otherwise he might have to be moved on. He should have established himself in he best 22 by now, unfornately I worry he might only ever be a decent footballer at best...
Prismall's arrival has meant that Lonergan has had to find more assets to his game in order to get picked regularly.
Longy413
6 Apr 2010, 21:21
More assets than being able to win the ball in a contested situation, a good kick, a good overhead mark, good around goals and a truck load of runt in him?
If we had more players with the assets of Lonergan, we'd be a better side.
Jivin Jackel
6 Apr 2010, 21:33
This guy really needs to touch it atleast 5 more times a game this year. (When he gets a game that is).
More assets than being able to win the ball in a contested situation, a good kick, a good overhead mark, good around goals and a truck load of runt in him?
If we had more players with the assets of Lonergan, we'd be a better side.Yeah, there's not a whole lot wrong with him, other than his lack of fitness.
If Lonergan could run out games for us in the middle, we'd be a better side.
The Great Barry Besanko
6 Apr 2010, 21:51
This guy really needs to touch it atleast 5 more times a game this year. (When he gets a game that is).
The thing with Lonergan is that stats don't show the full story. Sometimes its things like getting his body in the action to deliver a key tap/knock on as he did in a few games last year such as Anzac Day game. Or that extra effort to chase and harrass.
As for his lack of fitness, well just rotate him more. Shouldn't he doesn't play.
Longy413
6 Apr 2010, 21:55
Where does this theory that he lacks fitness come from?
Do we know this as fact? Has it been reported?
Or are we making a presumption based on his lack of midfield time?
The same coaches that didn't play him through the midfield last season are the same coaches that aren't picking him this season.
Where does this theory that he lacks fitness come from?
Do we know this as fact? Has it been reported?
Or are we making a presumption based on his lack of midfield time?
The same coaches that didn't play him through the midfield last season are the same coaches that aren't picking him this season.
Game time
Doesn't get more than 65 to 70% game time.
My assumption is based on:
* Lonergan stating during the pre-season that he needed to improve his fitness in order to play midfield
* His inability to do for 4 quarters what he does in maybe 2 or 3.
* Him playing parts of games in the midfield, and then spending the 2nd half up forward or on the bench
* Him playing a lot of the second half of last year in the forward line (although that could be due to Prismall, Welsh and McVeigh coming back)
You're right though Longy, the coaching staff have shown that they still something to learn about playing players in their best positions for the entire game (Myers, Houli for starters).
Longy413
6 Apr 2010, 22:07
My assumption is based on:
* Lonergan stating during the pre-season that he needed to improve his fitness in order to play midfield
Monfries has said that as well, I would take it with a grain of salt only because it's what I'd expect him to say.
There were times last year, plenty of them, where we couldn't get our hands on the ball in the middle and Lonergan was fresh, had been up forward all day and was ignored. Regardless of what fitness base he does or doesn't have, he's capable of playing 5 minutes in the midfield.
I can't remember him losing a contest, if he doesn't win it, he locks the ball in his area. If he's in the middle for the start of the last quarter in each of our first two games and momentum might well have gone in a different direction.
HighettBomber
6 Apr 2010, 22:17
All the comments on his clearance work are spot on, he is an absolute topline stoppage player. However, as has also been commented on, he doesn't get the ball enough. This may be partly due to game time, but it can't only be this. I don't like him up forward as his goal kickling is suspect, despite him showing good kicking skills around the ground.
It seems to me that he should at least be tried as a defender if he is not being played in the midfield rather than keeping him in the VFL.
Not every midfield has to be endurance. He can play in bursts and is a potential gun.
Suffers the same fate as Houli et al.. played out of position, fallen out of favour and probably won't be seen again unless injuries.
Will go to another club and rip it up. The game is getting faster etc but its actually trending back towards "footballers" rather than pure athletes. Longergan has heart and pure football brain. Absolute waste he isn't playing a ricardi/crawford style of midfield role.. come on at the 5-10 min mark when legs tiring and tear it open. Sub him with Jobe and fix two problems at the same time.
Should be getting game time. Fitness tests from preseason were reasonable from memory.. does anyone know he beep test results?
Tony Delaney
7 Apr 2010, 17:38
Sadly - Probably at another club.
But he should be the one that replaces Watson when he goes off to rest or is getting tagged out of a game.
Why is that Longy, why has he gone out of favour so quickly. I thought he was playing good strong footy for the limited games he had played.
High and Dry
8 Apr 2010, 18:03
Why is that Longy, why has he gone out of favour so quickly. I thought he was playing good strong footy for the limited games he had played.
I agree, he was solid most of the time only getting found out for pace at times..
I'm glad his back we need his toughness in the center, essendon looked very soft last week..
Nope Mcveigh got 1 week and lovett murry got 2 weeks and Hurley got 3 weeks. So Lovett-Murry's 2 weeks are done and Knights said that he will probably come in this week. Then Hurley for West Coast.
Thought Hurley's suspension wasn't done until after the West Coast match.
I just got a bit exited, if you know what (and where) I mean ;)
Mrs Mercuri
8 Apr 2010, 19:43
Is back in the side this week... probably to replace the injured Monfries.
Needs to make the most of it as there are a lot of players after his spot.
Ben the Gooner
8 Apr 2010, 21:49
Needs to take his chance this week. A good showing would cement his spot for a good while.
High and Dry
11 Apr 2010, 01:33
great to see him back throwing himself into packs
Crimsons
11 Apr 2010, 15:11
Doesn't kick enough goals as a forward and doesn't get enough of the ball as a midfielder. Tries really hard, but I'm not sure if there is a spot for him in the future.
kelvin_sheedy
11 Apr 2010, 16:50
Players look to be flying past him.
Hocking has gone past and with Melksham's performance last night...... I think we need to get more games into the melkshamwow.
Monfries, Reimers, Zaharakis are all better options forward and Davey will be given a few more chances to resurrect his career.
Interesting times for Sammy. He's not getting played in the middle a lot so i'm not sure he's getting the chance.
Could be good trade bait come years end.
Have to say, a role as a small defender is about the only area I can see him contributing to the team. At the moment it's just Slattery, with Atkinson lurking in the background, so if he manages to have a real hard crack at trying to develop that particular area of his game then he may turn out to be something. But I'm not holding my breath.
Have to say, a role as a small defender is about the only area I can see him contributing to the team. At the moment it's just Slattery, with Atkinson lurking in the background, so if he manages to have a real hard crack at trying to develop that particular area of his game then he may turn out to be something. But I'm not holding my breath.
Yeah, agree Godke. Has a backmens kick too.
Colin D'Cops
16 Apr 2010, 23:44
Bump.
Not sure what role he had tonight, but it wasn't particularly impressive. Reserves next week for Sammy surely, he tries hard but his engine is still questionable. Thoughts on his game tonight? Will he play seniors next week? I don't think so myself, but who am I.
Goooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeee
kelvin_sheedy
16 Apr 2010, 23:46
Lonergone.
Not good enough. He's always struggled to pick up the ball cleanly and just can't run. We need to cut our losses and find out guys that can.
Dreambomber
16 Apr 2010, 23:47
Bad player is bad. Was horrible all night and will be dropped.
lemon chicken
16 Apr 2010, 23:49
He cant complain, he started in the centre, did nothing of note. Even when the slippery conditions came into it in the second half he had no impact.
ningnangnong
16 Apr 2010, 23:50
If he goes out who comes in?
Prismall maybe. But Im not too sure why he hasnt been getting a game. What are his numbers at Bendigo?
I'd rather Longeran over someone like Alwyn Davey that just overruns the balls 8/10 times and has such low productivity.
Boucks09
16 Apr 2010, 23:56
He is in the same bracket as Welsh.
He constantly misses targets from 30m away for absolutely no reason at all. He also has the tank of a hot water bottle which means he will never get the ball more than 15 times a game.
Wouldn't have played this week if it wasn't for Stanton's injury.
Windas_Magic
17 Apr 2010, 00:09
Doesn't do enough, his consistency is non-existant and his foot skills are terrible. Back to the twos for you Sammy
Doesn't do enough, his consistency is non-existant and his foot skills are terrible. Back to the twos for you Sammy
almost say gone at years end with the rate of improvement from Zaharakis, Melksham and little Colyer.