Sam Lonergan Biography

Sam Lonergan retires after 81 games with both Essendon and Richmond while Luke McGuane, Robin Nahas, Tom Derickx and rookie Steven Verrier are told they will not be offered contracts for 2014.

Chris Knights will miss the rest of the season after dislocating a kneecap and rupturing his patella tendon against Port Adelaide.

Knights' injury will pave the way for former Bomber Sam Lonergan to be elevated to the senior list.

Sam Lonergan says he is angry and still not sure why Essendon delisted him.

"I was very frustrated and there was a sense of being angry towards that decision," he said.

"I was shocked because at the time I believed I still should be in that team, but I'd seen it coming.

"When I started getting inklings about my future it was frustrating and a bit of a shock to be experiencing that, and at times it was very tough.

"Even now I still probably don't understand why it happened, but that's footy and the way it works."

Essendon delists Kyle Reimers and Sam Lonergan as the deadline for list lodgement approaches.

Bomber Sam Lonergan says the person who sent him 'death threats', via Twitter, is unwell and needs help.

"I was just more disappointed that someone could even think of those types of things that were said," Lonergan said.

"It turned from instant anger to 'hang on a minute, there's a person here that I don't know, no one's going to know, but clearly needs some sort of help'.

"For me, it didn't really make sense that someone could come up with those type of words and put them in the same sentence."

Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan has received threats on Twitter serious enough for the matter to be referred to police.

The threats are related to Lonergan's tackle on Carlton midfielder Andrew Carrazzo which resulted in Carrazzo leaving the field with a broken shoulder blade that will sideline him for several weeks.

"It's seriously disturbing that anybody would have these thoughts, let alone action them by making threats through social media," AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis said.

"Regardless of motive or intent, any person who engages in such deplorable conduct should not take comfort from a perceived veil of anonymity within social media to avoid detection."

Essendon will not challenge suspensions for Matthew Lloyd, Patrick Ryder and Samuel Lonergan.

"We put the facts - including advice from our QC - in front of Matthew and on balance he did not wish to appeal and we respect that decision," general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd is offered a four week suspension for his hit on Hawthorn's Brad Sewell.

Bombers Samuel Lonergan and Paddy Ryder have also been offered one-week each for striking after a melee ensued in the match following Lloyd's bump.