Geelong premiership player Tom Lonergan won’t play at Yarrawonga this year.
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Speculation was growing the Cats’ 2011 grand final defender would play a number of games for his former club.
“I wouldn’t say I’ll not play footy ever again but, I think for me, the Ovens and Murray I respect the competition too much to not put any training or effort into it and that’s something I’d really have to do at this point in time,” he said.
“I don’t really want to train and have to do all those little things to get myself ready to play at that high standard of Ovens and Murray footy.
I don’t really want to train and have to do all those little things to get myself ready to play.
- Tom Lonergan
“It’s unlikely that I’ll play football for Yarrawonga or in the Ovens and Murray.”
The 33-year old was drafted at number 23 in the 2002 draft.
He played 209 senior games over 15 years, missing almost a year after having a kidney removed following an on-field collision in August, 2006.
Lonergan retired from the elite level last year and has just started his post-football career in human resources.
“I’ll have two kids by April and that will keep me pretty busy, and also full-time work now, so I’m getting used to a normal life,” he said.
“I find it hard to work out how players with families being able to play footy and dedicate so much to playing football at a level of Ovens and Murray standard.
“It’s certainly going to be a pretty full-on time for me, that will probably restrict me a fair bit.”
The Pigeons have been one of the quietest clubs on the recruiting front as they look to extend their finals streak to 13.