After foregoing a players-organised end-of-season holiday, Lonergan bunkered down in his former home of Launceston in a bid to improve his fitness to a level capable of competing in the AFL.
His dedication paid dividends; he improved his 2km time trial mark, and shed almost 5kg from his man-sized 183cm frame, looking noticeably leaner in the No. 37 Guernsey.
Heading in to round one, Lonergan says he is physically and mentally ready to atone for his disappointing inaugural campaign, after wrist and hamstring complaints kept him to just four senior AFL matches last year.
“It [the focus on his fitness] has really helped me coming into this season, as I just wanted to get my hamstring nice and strong after my troubles with it,'' Lonergan told The Examiner.
“I haven't had any troubles with it in training, so it's all going to hold me in good stead for the season.
“I'm pulling up OK after games, even though I'm still feeling pretty sore, but that would come due to not playing footy for a while.
“But it is really good to be playing footy with the boys again.”
The pack-crunching midfielder featured prominently in the side’s NAB Challenge matches against Essendon and Brisbane, and showed promise as an on-ball tagger after neutralising the impact of Lions star Daniel Rich in Townsville.
His goals for 2014 are simple - play as many senior games as possible.
“I just want to play senior footy,” he said.
“I just want to play consistent footy, hold my spot and play my role for the team.''
