June 14, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by James Bresnehan
Reported by James Bresnehan
DARYN Cresswell believes Geelong "miracle man" Tom Lonergan can rebuild his future in the Cats' senior team -- but not before he is put through the wringer by the Tasmanian Devils in their VFL clash at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.
It will be Lonergan's comeback match after life-saving surgery last year to remove a kidney destroyed in a courageous marking attempt against Melbourne in round 21.
Now the Devils coach, Cresswell, a former assistant coach at Geelong, was mentor to Lonergan when he arrived at the "Cattery".
Lonergan, a 23-year-old forward who has played just seven senior games, will wear a custom-made back guard to protect his remaining kidney.
"It will give me the confidence to back into the packs," Lonergan said yesterday.
"It's pretty thick and hard, so I don't think the same thing will be able to happen."
The Cat should expect no favours from the hard-hitting Tasmanians, renowned for their hard tackling.
"Our guys are under instructions to treat him like any other player out there," Cresswell said yesterday.
"He will be tackled no softer or no harder than any of them.
"If he is there to be tackled, he can expect to be tackled with the same ferocity as anyone else we come up against."
Lonergan was passed fit by Geelong's medical team on Monday night.
"It's not like a knee or a shoulder or something like that. It's something I can't feel. The kidney, it's gone now," Lonergan said.
"I won't be getting it strapped up before the game or anything like that and I know it was a freak incident at the time. I'm just hoping it doesn't happen again."
Lonergan has amazed doctors with the speed of his recovery. It was first thought his AFL career might have been finished.
"It was disappointing what happened to Tom last year," Cresswell said.
"He's a promising young player with a lot of potential. It's good to see him bounce back.
"I believe he's got what it takes to get back to the highest level and I hope he goes on to play some good footy from now on."
Lonergan's first goal is to rediscover the form that earned him a senior berth last season.
"They were great and they have been great through the whole nine months," Lonergan said. "I've never felt out of the group at all."
Geelong thrashed Tasmania in round two at Bellerive.
