AFTER another day of turmoil at Whitten Oval, Geelong defender Tom Lonergan has knocked back a three-year offer from the Western Bulldogs to stay a Cat.
 
The 30-year-old was being heavily courted by the Dogs with a lucrative contract attempting to lure him from the club he won the 2011 premiership with.
 
But with Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney resigning from his post on Friday following trade request by captain Ryan Griffen, Lonergan has opted to stay put.
 
"It was a very exciting offer from the Doggies but in the end I love the boys at the (Geelong) footy club and I'll end up staying," Tom Lonergan told Triple M.
 
"It probably started yesterday when the skipper (Ryan Griffen) walked out, there was a little bit of uncertainty around the footy club.
 
"But I sort of had a chat with Macca (McCartney) and as of yesterday I thought he was still going to be there and then of course today the bombshell was dropped and he was leaving.
 
"So I suppose that probably did turn it."
 
Cats football manager Neil Balme was pleased the key defender had decided to remain at the club.
 
"We are very happy Tom will see out his contract with the club," he said on the club's website.
 
"There is no doubt he is a important member of our side going forward."
 
 
But given the defender's relationship with former Geelong assistant McCartney and the apparent instability at Whitten Oval, he decided to add to his 145 AFL games with the Cats.
 
Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said on Friday the Dogs still considered themselves to be an attractive club to rival players despite their sudden lack of coach and captain.
 
"I think we're an exciting venue, we've got cap space, we've got the capacity to pay, and for players and managers considering coming here, they ought to know amongst that list are kids who are going to be playing finals in my opinion, year after year after year," Gordon said.
 
"If they want a career that involves opportunities for finals footy with a great group of people, come to the Western Bulldogs."