D.O.B:
26 March 1987
Club:
Richmond
Honours:
2005 NAB AFL Draft Pick No. 50
2006 AFL Debut (Round 15)
2008 Most Improved Player
2012 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, Pick No. 22
Recruited from the Tassie Mariners U18s and the Tasmanian Devils seniors, Sam is a small to medium-sized midfielder who is capable of playing in the forward line and in defence.
Sam was a star junior player in Tasmania where he won two Best & Fairest awards with the Mariners, captained a composite Allies team against Victoria and played senior football for the Devils as an 18-year old.
Sam made his debut against St Kilda in Round 15 of the 2006 season and unfortunately missed all of 2007 with a badly injured knee. 2008 was a season to remember for Sam as he produced some fantastic performances and was awarded with the 2008 Most Improved Player.
Lonergan played 17 games during 2009 and kicked a total of 10 goals. In season 2010, Sam played a total of 16 games and had a career high 23 disposals against Richmond. His consistency during those games, along with his ability to play defensive roles, was sorely missed in 2011 after tearing his medial ligament in round 14 against Hawthorn.
The hard-nosed midfielder was in fine form until then, but he didn’t play another senior game for the season and his the impact of his absence was obvious, with the Bombers rueing the loss of his strong clearance work as a reliable inside midfielder.
Despite an injury interrupted 2012, Sam still managed to string together 14 games for the Dons. His stoppage work proved to be severely missed as his team struggled to find form in the back half of the year. Sam was de-listed at the end of the 2012 season, however has been given another opportunity at the Richmond Football Club.