Tom Lonergan lifts Cats

[SJ]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24282113-19742,00.html

Tom Lonergan lifts Cats
Alice Coster | September 02, 2008 03:17pm
GEELONG coach Mark Thompson has praised Tom Lonergan, describing the forward as a motivator for the whole team. Lonergan was on the cusp of establishing himself as a key position player for the Cats when he suffered a serious internal injury in late 2006, resulting in him having his right kidney removed.
“It’s amazing,” Thompson said. “To make his way back into the team and play the sort of footy his is playing is just fantastic.
“You see someone (Lonergan) and go into visit them in the hospital and they were only minutes away from dying.
“You would never have thought in your wildest dreams that he would ever play footy again and he decided to make that decision to play.”
He said Lonergan had been outstanding this year, kicking 31 goals since coming into the senior side in Round 10
“For awhile he was just motivating the whole footy club because he is that sort of special person," Thompson said.
Thompson said the forward would keep his spot going into the final despite young gun Tom Hawkins showing some real skill.
“(Hawkins) is just moving along very nicely … (but) something would have to happen for Tom to get in.”

Fantastic effort, probably overlooked in some respects. 31 goals in 13 games this year, after only seven career games before 2008.

 

[Vegas.]

Even more exciting is the bit you didn't mean to copy that says 'Ball ruled out of Cats clash'!

But on topic, the guy is an absolute inspiration - the word courage doesn't really do it justice, given that blokes are labelled 'courageous' every week on the field, Tom has taken it to a whole new level, just by stepping over that white line.

 

[OldStyle2007]

2.38 goals / game is average for a 52 goal regular season

Pretty consistent effort. He'd have to get injured or play like Blake did in 2007 Collingwood prelim to be ousted from this team

 

[Team Extreme]

So who here wanted him, Shannon, Mackie and Charlie out back in 06? and thought Lonners wouldnt get the boot because of the kidney incident

I'll be honest and say they all sucked in our forward line and im glad Mackie is now down back and Lonners is now a better kick at goal..

 

[SJ]

So who here wanted him, Shannon, Mackie and Charlie out back in 06? and thought Lonners wouldnt get the boot because of the kidney incident

I'll be honest and say they all sucked in our forward line and im glad Mackie is now down back and Lonners is now a better kick at goal..

And yet two years on, there's a fair chance they will all be playing in the same Qualifying Final.

 

[Duskfire]

I will be one to admit that I didnt think Loners was all that good (I always liked Mackie though.) However, am glad to be proven wrong in this case. If he had played all season, he would be at 45/50 goals going by his statistics, which is an awesome effort. And he seems to be an awesome shot on that boundary line too; taking tips from SJ?

 

[BlueOyster]

hope matty egan has the same effect next year, he deserves a medal too.

 

[Duskfire]

hope matty egan has the same effect next year, he deserves a medal too.

If Egan comes back and returns to the football he was playing for the Cats, that would be such a huge boost to the moral of the team. Would definetly lift them.

 

[Mr.Chicken]

If Egan comes back and returns to the football he was playing for the Cats, that would be such a huge boost to the moral of the team. Would definetly lift them.

Imagine if we could get Egan back playing his best form. Unfortunately I get the feeling even if he gets back on the field in 2009 (which is nowhere near definite) it will take until 2010 when he will be back to his best form. By than, will our premiership window still be open? Let's hope so, I hope Egan can get at least one flag, he surely deserves it.

 

[Whopper32]

I like the way Tom is taking the ball in the hands out front, and if not marking the ball, is either bringing it down in front for the crumbers or having his arms chopped and getting a free kick. Has been very solid overall but kicked beautifully against WC last round.

 

[Exhale You]

If, at any stage, we're running short on inspiration during this finals campaign, the players only need look in the direction of those in the 13 and 24 guernseys.

Both have suffered setbacks (obviously one far more serious than the other), yet both put their head down and have worked their ring off to improve their game and make it into our team so they have an opportunity at winning the holy grail.

If we win the premiership, the roar when both lads names are called out will be deafening, and rightly so because both deserve every bit of success they achieve.

 

[SJ]

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/a-tale-of-two-toms/2008/09/03/1220121329985.html

A tale of two Toms
Peter Hanlon | September 4, 2008

IN THE tale of two Tom Cats, the characters were cast long ago. One would fill the vacancy created by Nathan Ablett's absence, growing into the role by the week. The other's lot was to toil gamely on the fringe, longing for another dance with the greats.

That the story has run true — save for a reversal of the roles — says more about the remarkable rise of one than any great failing from the other.

Tom Hawkins began 2008 a pre-season older, four kilograms lighter and with a berth on the premiership forward line as Cameron Mooney's offsider his for the taking. Mooney, for one, forecast feats as big as his frame, predicting Hawkins would one day be "pretty much owning the whole 50 for himself and kicking 80-plus goals a year".

Tom Lonergan had starred in the Cats' VFL flag last year, yet those on the outside looking in were captivated more by his story than his football. It was achievement enough to survive the knock in August 2006 that cost him a kidney and nearly his life; committing and conditioning his depleted body to again absorb the game's physical conflicts won him universal admiration.

"From our side, it was always going to be a battle between the two of them after Nathan's decision," assistant coach Ken Hinkley said. "Hawk had played the games the year before (nine for a 12-goal return), and Tom was only making his way back.

"You would have expected Tommy Hawkins had his nose in front at the start of the year."

But just playing again was not enough for Lonergan.

Leigh Tudor, Geelong's VFL coach, marvels at "all the little things that he does … everything in his power to make sure he's in that side and that he stays there". Still, when he joined Hawkins in the round-10 team that met Carlton in late May, no one was looking far ahead; coach Mark Thompson spoke afterwards of what a likeable young man he was and declared he would "definitely play again next week".

Three months on, he has kicked 31 goals and is about to play his first final in a team few doubt will go all the way again. This week, Thompson said of Hawkins: "We thought he was a big part of the plan (for the year), but Tom Lonergan has been outstanding since we brought him in. It's his spot at the moment."

The tale of two Toms is just another example of Geelong's riches, where one is destined to feel the longing the likes of Brent Prismall, and at times this season Shannon Byrnes and Travis Varcoe, know well. As Tudor notes, it is a scenario from which all should benefit.

"For me, having either Tom Lonergan or Tom Hawkins in the VFL meant the other one was in the AFL," Tudor said. "There was always that pressure to perform, no matter where they were playing."

Hawkins never quite revisited the impact of his early matches last season, when fans chanted "Tomahawk" and waved plastic axes in the crowd. He kicked five goals in round three and three the next week, yet in a team travelling so well it was no great burden to send the developing 20-year-old back to the twos mid-season.

He has kicked goals either side of a month missed with a stress fracture — which, significantly, he spotted early so spared himself a longer, potentially season-ending spell on the sidelines. Tudor says he has "been a good player every time he's played with us"; with 14 goals in the past three VFL rounds, he is ready to go should that "something" happen above him that Thompson says is needed to prompt a senior return.

Again, it is an embarrassment of wealth. Says Hinkley: "It wouldn't be a problem for us having to pick Tom Hawkins straight into the side now."

For his part, Lonergan said this week it was simply "my turn". Like anything, each day spent playing among the stars has left him feeling less like he is in outer space. "The longer you're in there, the easier it gets and the more comfortable you get in playing."

Both Hinkley and Tudor point out that, although his horrific injury two years ago came in only his seventh senior game, the then-22-year-old had started to play his best football. "The ability was there, whether it be as a full-back, full-forward, whatever the role was going to be — he had a lot of natural football ability for a six-foot-five man," Hinkley says.

"He effectively lost almost two years of footy — a full year in recovery and another year getting himself going again."

Now, Hinkley wonders if people have noticed just how well he is travelling. "If you were talking about another forward in the competition, and he was on track to play 22 games, he's probably getting closer to 65, 70 goals. That probably gets lost a little bit because Geelong have been as strong as they've been. He's in a good side, but he's played his role terrifically well."

But the last word should go to Thompson, emphasising that this Tom's tale is about much more than football. "When you see someone, visit them in hospital and they're only minutes away from dying and lost a kidney, you'd never think in your wildest dreams that he would ever play footy again. But then to make his way back into the team and play the sort of footy he's playing, it's just fantastic."

 

[fpm84]

There is an excellent in-depth interview with Tom L in the new edition of 4 Quarters mag (the one with Judd on the cover). AFL members get a free copy in the post but for everyone else it's worth the $7 you'll pay for it in a newsagent.