The Tasmanian AFL list exits continued on Tuesday with Gold Coast calling time on Jesse Lonergan’s stay at the expansion club.
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The 23-year-old, who was a first round selection (pick 13) in the 2012 national draft, played 60 games for the Suns after making his debut in round 6, 2013.
He played just the five matches this season, with the highlight of his final season at the Suns the shutdown role he did on Swan Josh Kennedy after quarter-time in Gold Coast’s famous win over Sydney in round 18.
“On behalf of the club, I’d like to thank Jesse for his commitment to the club over the past six seasons, and wish him all the best for the future," Gold Coast general manager of football operations Jon Haines said.
Lonergan averaged 14.9 touches, 2.5 marks and 4.5 tackles a game in his Gold Coast career.
He is one of nine Tasmanians who have been delisted this post-season, but one AFL great believed the journey is not over for at least one of those group.
Essendon great Tim Watson, speaking on SEN Radio on Tuesday, believed another club could revive the career of 26-year-old former Saint Maverick Weller.
“They had a really poor year last year, but the year before that it might’ve been the first half of the year before that, he was a really important player for St Kilda,’’ Watson said.
“I reckon there’ll be a club out there that will roll the dice on him.”
Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon added: “I heard him interviewed last season and he spoke about the injuries he had and how that took away his impact to train.
“You’d need to do a full medical — of the two I think you’d take a bigger risk on (former Saints teammate) Hughy Goddard.”
The first delisted free agency period will open on Thursday.