He has had only a brief taste of AFL due to a series of wrist and hamstring injuries, but Jesse Lonergan showed on Saturday he has spent his time on the sidelines wisely, observing GC SUNS skipper and reigning Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett.

Lonergan ripped in when coming on as a substitute against Hawthorn on Saturday, and picked up ten disposals, five clearances and laid five tackles in an encouraging return to senior footy in his home city of Launceston.

Key injuries have curtailed Lonergan’s career to date, but that effort in less than a half of football gave SUNS fans a taste of what might be to come from the midfielder.

While he has spent little time on the playing field with him, Lonergan told The Examiner that Ablett had played a crucial part in his development since he was drafted by the club at the end of 2012.

“He’s the best player I’ve ever seen in playing and training, and he’s so professional around the club and definitely leads by example,” said Lonergan.

“He’s someone that I’ve always watched since joining the club as he’s a contested ball winner who wins a lot of his ball inside and can do the unbelievable around the ground, as well.

“As a person, he is just a great bloke who is very approachable.”

Lonergan had the box seat to watch Ablett rack up 45 disposals on a dismal day in Launceston on Saturday, and the Tasmanian said he had taken one football lesson, in particular, from his captain.

“I’ve learnt from him that you’ve got to take pride in your possessions; that when you get the footy, you don’t want to muck it up, you want to make sure you do something with it and just to make sure you have an awareness around the ground.”