Lonergan quits Eagles to take up AFL job at Richmond
Woodville-West Torrens is once again on the hunt for a senior coach after Sam Lonergan announced he is stepping down to take up an AFL coaching role.
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Woodville-West Torrens is once again on the hunt for a senior coach after Sam Lonergan quit the club to take up an AFL coaching role with Richmond.
The Eagles informed members and sponsors of the move on Tuesday night, saying the “fantastic” first year coach would leave with the club’s full blessing.
Lonergan joined the Eagles this season after coaching Launceston for two years, having been a player-assistant coach with Glenelg in 2014-15.
“While it is disappointing to lose a great person and coach in Sam, we fully support his decision to take on such a great opportunity in the AFL system,” chief executive Luke Powell said, revealing the search for his replacement was already well under way.
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“Our club will always encourage its people to enhance and better their careers at the highest level, be that as a player, coach or an employee in the professional sector. Sam has endeared himself to this football club and has developed strong lasting relationships within his short time at the club.
“Sam will continue to always be part of the Eagles family and we wish Sam and his family all the success in the next chapter of their lives.”
Powell said Richmond had been transparent in all dealings and that Lonergan would continue with the Eagles up until their club champion night and would be supporting the reserves and U/18s in their finals matches.
Lonergan managed two AFL games for Richmond in 2013 after arriving from Essendon where he managed 79 matches after being picked up at No.50 in the 2005 draft.
The Eagles, hampered by injury issues this season, dropped to seventh this season with eight wins and 10 losses. It is just the fifth time the club has missed the finals since West Torrens and Woodville amalgamated in 1991, and only the second since 2000.
They have had a role in the finals for the previous 10 seasons.
Remarkably, the Eagles have had only two coaches in the previous 18 years with Ron Fuller in charge from 2001-09, followed by Michael Godden from 2010-18.