Launceston coach Sam Lonergan and some top-end talent is on the way out of Windsor Park.
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Lonergan, 31, informed the Blues earlier this week that he had accepted a position to coach SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens job – ending his two-year reign as Blues coach.
The news comes after half-back Rulla Kelly-Mansell signed with Glenelg last week and confirmation that midfielder Jake Hinds, ruckman Tim Auckland, reigning best and fairest Dylan Riley, and development league MVP Anthony Liberatore are also all departing.
Hinds is off to try his hand at NEAFL side Southport, Liberatore is returning home to Victoria, Auckland will be at a yet-to-be-confirmed SANFL club and Riley has signed on with NTFA division 2 club Meander Valley Suns.
North-West talents Tom Mundy and Jamieson House are exploring options in a bid to get drafted, while star goal-kicker Mitch Thorp, who is contracted for next season, has denied speculation he is set to join brother Beau at Longford in 2019.
Lonergan was contracted for another season, but said on Friday that the opportunity was too good for the former Essendon and Richmond player to refuse having previously held an assistant position at Glenelg in 2014-15.
“This is a significant step forward,” Lonergan said.
“Launceston is fantastic but Tasmania at times is unstable so I’m looking forward to being able to focus on football and not necessarily the landscape of Tasmanian football as much as I love it.
“The SANFL is a semi-professional level of footy and the Eagles finished third last season and in the past 18 years they have finished in the top four on 15 occasions.
“And in that time they have only had two coaches [with long-term coach Michael Godden accepting an assistant role with AFL club Adelaide last month] and that stability gives a coach great confidence.
“This level of job is in line with AFL coaching jobs and once you’ve had experience at this level it opens up a lot more avenues.”
Lonergan, who also applied to coach Tasmania Devils in the TAC Cup, led the Blues to an unexpected State League preliminary final appearance in 2017 and to a semi this season after several lean years.
“I would recommend all coaches exiting the AFL to senior coach at a state level and Tassie provides a stepping stone,” he said.
“In all fairness it’s a couple of levels below SANFL and the VFL so you get to dive your teeth into state-level and head coaching issues from the ground up and build a strong foundation.
“I leave the Launceston Football Club in a really strong position.
“On the ground a lot of young players have got exposure to finals footy and set them for understanding what success and training habits look like, which will only springboard them into the future.”
Launceston president Sandra Boland said everyone at the club was behind Lonergan’s decision and wished all the departing players the best.
“We congratulate Sam and support him moving forward,” Boland said.
“It has been wonderful to have him here and he has been someone for our players to aspire to – fitting in with the club’s motto to help people become the best version of themselves.
“We encourage all our players wanting to play at the highest level to explore their options and help them make the best decisions for their future.”
Boland said her board had begun the process to find Lonergan’s successor and that she was hopeful of a swift appointment.
Lonergan will depart next month.
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