SFNL: Cheltenham’s Jack and Sam Lonie share on how family played a part in their premiership

Sam Lonie had “one foot in retirement” while brother Jack was looking for a renewed love for footy. On Sunday, they had a share in Cheltenham’s thrilling flag. They reflect on the season, the emotional end and what lies ahead.

Jack (L) and Sam Lonie pose as Cheltenham premiership players. Picture: Tyler Lewis

The siren sounded and the emotion poured out of Cheltenham brothers Jack and Sam Lonie.

Sam fiercely tackled cousin Rob Cathcart to the ground while the sight of family storming the field “got a bit much” for an emotional Jack.

Sam had “one foot in retirement” and Jack was searching for a deeper love for footy ahead of 2024.

They congregated with Cathcart at Cheltenham, and on Sunday, became a premiership trio in the Rosellas’ thrilling win over Dingley.

It was Sam’s maiden senior flag and Jack’s second – but the ex-AFL Saint said this one had an “extra special” element to it.

“To play in one with my brother is extra special, this is probably our first full season together and it’s been unreal,” Jack said.

Sam was riding off into the sunset after a terrific career at Seaford in the Mornington Peninsula league when the call to join Cheltenham came.

“I had one foot in retirement but Jack and the boys pulled me out of it to come have a kick at Cheltenham,” Sam said.

“I started the year in the twos but managed to find my way in and here we are.

“I have a young family, footy is pretty hard on my wife with a young kid, but to play here with Jack, Rob and other close friends, it seemed like a good opportunity.

“It sounded like a good way to keep playing while in my 30s and I have loved every minute.”

Left to right: Sam Lonie, Rob Cathcart, Sam Dunell and Jack Lonie.

For Jack, standing on the premiership dais with family was better than piling up 40 possessions.

“After the game I was in tears,” Jack said.

“I am a big family man and have probably found the love for footy again playing with them this year.

“It was a close finish, everyone stormed the ground, I was all over the shop and it got a bit much for me.

“To play the whole year together, see him (Sam) do really well, see Rob do really well, that’s more special to me than playing a good game.”

Their premiership medallions didn’t come easy, with Dingley leading the Rosellas at three-quarter time.

Jack knew the Rosellas had the firepower to mow down the Dingoes as they had done it only a fortnight earlier.

“I was thinking we were in the same position two weeks ago in the semi and one of our themes for the day was faith in each other,” Jack said.

“We had to have faith in each other, we definitely had the faith we’d get the job done – it was tough but we dug in.”

Jack Lonie. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Sam thought the late deficit brought the best out of the Rosellas after they had a soft run coming into the finals.

“I think it took to have our backs against the wall to get the very best out of the team,” Sam said.

“We’ve won every game so we didn’t have a lot of games where we were up against it.

“We coasted through the last few games of the season, so to be up against it at three quarter time, it took the best out of us to get the job done.”

The brigade of Lonie’s stormed more than one field at the weekend, with the kids stealing the show at Cheltenham’s captain’s run on Saturday.

Jack Lonie during Saturday's captain's run. Picture: Andrew Keech.

Sam jokes the younger players were taken aback by the cast of kids on the track while Jack thinks it’s what makes Cheltenham such a good club.

“There’s a lot of young boys at the club and we might have put them on the back foot with all the kids we brought down,” Sam laughed.

“It was great to be able to share that with the club and they embrace the kids, they want us to bring them down.

“We had the kids in the lap and I think some of the young guys were thinking ‘what the hell is going on?’ because they hadn’t seen so many kids under five in 20 years.”

Jack added: “The young fellas embrace all the kids coming down, they all play with them, know their names and I think that’s what is so good about Cheltenham.”

Sam Lonie during Saturday's captain's run. Picture: Andrew Keech.

As for next year?

“I will wait and see what happens but I have had an absolute ball,” Sam said.

“Regardless of what happens, I will be a part of the Cheltenham footy club for a long time now – I am sure you’ll find me with a boot on at some stage next year.

“Whether that’s round 1, we’ll see what happens.”

Jack, meanwhile, pledged to be a Rosella in 2025.

“I’ll be here for sure, they’ve welcomed me and my family in, I will definitely be here, I am looking forward to another year but we’ll enjoy this one first,” Jack said.