Traded Billy Longer (2012-2013)

[chopperduck]

Re: Billy Longer

Seems like a very nice guy, in all the interviews you can't help but just smile watching him talk. He has a very friendly and vibrant face, and looks very genuine when he says he is thrilled to be coming up to us. I don't think we will have a big go home factor with him which is great. I think he will fit in really well with our young group, and i do like that he is a decent size. Still needs gym time, but at 95kg (iirc) it ain't bad for a first year ruckman. Clearly has leadership potential as well, being captain of the Vic metro team, which had a pretty stand out side this year.

I read somewhere where he said he really enjoyed being the captain because it made him a better player and person, having to take on that extra resposibility, which is good to hear. Would probably flourish as part of a young leadership group.

I just really hope he can do well for us up forward. I can see a ruck split of 60/40 to Bergs, simply because Longer is probably a better option up forward. Bergs certainly showed some development up forward this year though, kicked some nice goals and got better with his leading as the year went on. Having another ruckman to share the rucking load, giving Bergs more time up foward in a natural environment instead of having to play as a forward due to injuries should do Bergs a lot of good for his development.

If we can average a goal a game from both rucks it will be a win i think.

 

[jackess]

Re: Billy Longer

The new ruck no-contact rules in the NAB cup will make experimenting with young ruckman interesting. Hopefully he can show something in those games and get his endurance up to a level were he can possibly get ahead of Hudson in the pecking order and maybe get a couple of games.

 

[_Gin]

Re: Billy Longer

Man, we better hold onto him.

Top 10 ruck pick, going to spend his first few years training with Charmo (hard at it premiership ruck), Leuenberger (exceptional tap ruckman) and Ben Hudson (seasoned hard at it type), you've got to think he is going to develop well with these guys.

As for forward positions, still has Brownie around as well.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Billy Longer joins Brisbane Lions' den after AFL draft

• by: Patrick Lane
• From: Leader
• November 25, 2011 12:16PM

Longer revealed he suspected pick 7 to the Giants or pick 8 to the Lions was his fate, but said he remained unsure of where he was headed until his name was read out.

A Brownlow medallist and Brisbane great awaited the 202cm giant as he graced the stage, coach Michael Voss presenting him his maroon and gold jumper.

"He just said congratulations, and that he was looking forward to getting to know me," Longer said.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

[YOUTUBE]v6KFD3y66Q8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Contested Footy

Billy Longer is the most talked about draft prospect when it comes to ruckmen. The 202cm big man has really improved his game over the last 12 months from a good ruckman who can rotate forward to a dominant ruckman, who hits second and third efforts hard and can kick goals.

Longer is quick over the ground for a big man and doesn’t struggle at ground level which means he has been compared to Dean Cox by a few onlookers, whilst there is merit in the comparison, Longer will need to improve his endurance to reach that standard.

Like just about all young ruckmen, Longer seems a raw talent. The difference is normally you expect to give a young ruckman a few years to grow into his body to play at AFL level. Longer will be able to play AFL football as a second ruckman/forward in his first year and later could develop into one of the dominant ruckman in the AFL- not many get rated that highly.

The two areas I’d like to see Longer improve in are endurance and his forward line work. Really though I’m nitpicking as I think he is a top 5-10 draft pick as is.

 

[irel]

Re: Billy Longer

How good is this;

He laughed when asked how he would handle his initial meeting with Brown, but his response left no doubt as to the young ruckman's joy of finding his way to the Lions.

"I'll have to restrain myself from giving him a big hug," he said.

"He's a big man who I have really loved for a long time."

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

MACLEOD'S BILLY LONGER NOW A LION

Macleod congratulates Billy Longer on his selection by the Brisbane Lions at No. 8 in the 2011 National Draft. Billy played all his junior football at Macleod before heading down the elite player pathway with the Northern Knights and Vic Metro. He was captain of the victorious Vic Metro under-18 team at this year's national championships and gained All-Australian selection.

A graduate of the AIS-AFL Academy, the 201cm ruckman is the second Macleod player in the past four years to be selected in the top 10 of the National Draft. Michael Hurley was selected No. 5 in the 2008 Draft by Essendon and is now making his mark on the AFL.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

FanFooty

Longer is a likely top 10 pick (potentially top 5) for the mere fact he's arguably the best ruckman in this draft. He's a massive guy and isn't afraid to use his size in matches. He was in the AA team for the U18 carnival where he Captained Vic Metro to the Championships. He has great leadership qualities on the field and can do more than just ruck. He is known to be able to mvoe forward to good effect with a goal or two. He's an old fashioned ruckman who doesn't get many possessions but can get an abundance of hitouts (Tap Ruckman). The thing he adds to his game is his workrate around the ground other than just ruckwork. He's Dean Cox-esque in his ability on the ground and workrate but doesn't have that endurance yet to be at his level (not to say he ever will be).

Longer played for the Northern Knights this season where he's highlighted his credentials as the best ruckman in the draft. He's managed over 20 hitouts in his 12 outings including a game with a whopping 41 hitouts. Having his size though does play against him on some occasions, giving away free kicks more often than receiving them. Longer's Stats don't show many possessions but he can take a contested mark and adds to his fantasy capabilities with his tackling skills. Like most ruckman though, his kicking skills aren't all that great but for a rookie ruckman, he can pass on that considering his main goal is to ruck.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Northern Knights

The Northern Knights would like to congratulate Billy Longer and Jack Newnes on being selected in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft held last night in Western Sydney. Billy was the first Knights player selected at pick 8 overall by the Brisbane Lions, while Jack didn't have too long to wait being grabbed by St Kilda with their 2nd round pick number 37 overall. It is a great achievement for these two boys and a just reward for a fantastic season with both the Northern Knights and Vic Metro.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Longer leads ruck hopefuls
By Jason Phelan
3:41 PM Wed 07 Sep, 2011

"To have the honour of captaining Vic Metro … it really just humbled me and I tried to do as much as I could for the team with such a rich tradition," Longer says.

"Through my earlier years at Macleod and the TAC Cup, I have had some captaincy roles, but I've always tried to be a leader within the group regardless of the label.

"It's about trying to help the blokes around you."

Longer's skill set puts him in a group of young players Greater Western Sydney can build a team around. Rohan Welsh, the coach of Vic Metro, is glowing in his praise of Longer's qualities.

"He led the team from the word go on and off the field," Welsh says.

"He is a real leader, has a great personality and he's a really good footballer. He's worked and worked and he's got his just reward.

"He plays a bit like Dean Cox. He's got a big motor, he can run all day, take a big mark and he's hard at it. He's a beauty."

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Under-age footballers Billy Longer and Devon Smith have no problem going to Greater Western Sydney

• Jay Clark
• Herald Sun
• July 06, 2011 12:00AM

Vic Metro big man Billy Longer and Vic Country's ball magnet Devon Smith loom as an ideal ruck-rover combination for the Giants.
The pair's stocks have surged during the under-18 national championships, which reach their crescendo when Metro and Country meet at Etihad Stadium.
Longer said he just wanted to play footy. He said: "I don't care if that's in Sydney or Perth."

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Tom Downie

Finally, he debuted in the last round against Northern Knights, and came up against the standout underage ruckman in the country, likely top-10 pick Billy Longer. He didn't beat him, but did enough to impress. ''That was a good measure, it made me think I can do it,'' Downie says.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Draft whispers
22 Nov 2011
By Jason Phelan

Longer is an exceptional tap ruckman, but it remains to be seen whether he will develop the second string to his bow that a modern AFL ruckman needs, whether it be up forward or in defence.

He is a top-shelf prospect so the likelihood is that he can, but with Matthew Leuenberger the Lions' lead ruck for years to come, do they need to risk spending a top-10 pick on a player who may turn out to be a pure ruckman only?

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Ruckman Billy Longer dominates TAC Cup match

• Sam Landsberger
• Herald Sun
• April 17, 2011 11:08PM

NORTHERN Knights ruckman Billy Longer's purple patch continued yesterday as he kick-started his side after a lethargic first term against Western Jets.
The 202cm giant booted two goals as the Knights eroded a 25-point deficit before kicking clear to win 15.13 (102) to 13.11 (89) at Visy Park.
Knights coach Anthony Allen said Longer, who is believed to be hot on Greater Western Sydney's radar, was a top-10 "definite" at the national draft.
"He's the best ruckman in the competition by a mile," Allen said.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

sportsiq

#8: Billy Longer: Brisbane have one of the steals of the draft. I'm still shocked that the GWS Giants let the best ruckman in the draft slip through to the Brisbane Lions. Longer has been likened to West Coast ruckman, Dean Cox. His agility around the ground is sensational for 201cm, 98kg boy. His skills and athletism are something that will get the Brisbane fans up and about in 2012. He was captain of the Vic Metro side in the Under 18 Championships, averaging 21.4 hitouts a game.

 

[Keyza]

Re: why do we continue to draft ruckmen with our early picks?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...-after-afl-draft/story-fn53klc6-1226205928330




How cute is he?

I know Billy well, he played junior footy with my son for Macleod. He has always towered over the other kids and the opposition supporters always referred to him as "that big kid". He was 12 years old and kicking goals from 40 metres out.
Billy is a lovely kid, a gentle giant. Barracked for Geelong.
Its interesting though, GWS have been talking to him for 18 months and this time last year his family were convinced he would be going to GWS. Only a matter of a few weeks ago he knew he would be going interstate and assumed it would be to Sydney. Not sure why they changed their mind.
My son was pretty please for Billy and was even happier when the foxtel coverage of the draft showed an u/13 Grand Final of Macleod and he saw himself on TV!

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Emma Quayle

Billy Longer's a teenager and no quick fix in the ruck (look at Richmond's very talented Ty Vickery as an example of how fair we need to be when assessing the first steps of young talls), but he should be able to play some games next year.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

2011 NAB AFL Under-18 All Australian team

Defenders: Jed Anderson (NT), Michael Talia (Vic Metro), Brandon Ellis (Vic Metro), Brad Crouch (Vic Country), Brody Mihocek (Tas), Alex Forster (SA)

Midfield: Billy Longer (Vic Metro), Dom Tyson (Vic Metro), Stephen Coniglio (WA), Jaeger O’Meara (WA), Toby Greene (Vic Metro), Will Hoskin-Elliott (Vic Metro)

Forwards: Chad Wingard (SA), Sam Mayes (SA), Lachie Whitfield (Vic Country), Ben Kennedy (SA), Jonathon Patton (Vic Metro), John McKenzie (Tas)

Interchange: Mitchell Grigg (SA), Brodie Grundy (SA), Taylor Adams (Vic Country), Clay Smith (Vic Country)

Coach: Rohan Welsh (Vic Metro)

Assistant Coach: Matt Armstrong (TAS)

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Northern Knights Best and Fairest

U/18 Best & Fariest: Doug Morris
U/18 2nd Best & Fairest: Billy Longer
U/18 3rd Best & Fairest: Nick Maric

The highlight of the night was Knights captain Doug Morris claiming the Best & Fairest award with 50 votes from Billy Longer 2nd on 35 votes and Nick Maric 3rd on 33 votes.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Emma Quayle's draft camp preview

Longer seems the standout ruckman. The Giants may grab him with one of their high picks, and Port Adelaide and Brisbane will be taking a good look too. Unfortunately, he tweaked a hamstring last week and won't be able to do much of the physical testing. He's a smart, impressive kid who is bound to interview well.

​

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[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Stephen Silvagni

The only top-10 players not to go to GWS were the draft's top-rated young ruckman, Billy Longer who's joined the Lions and Sturt midfielder Chad Wingard, claimed by Port Adelaide.Silvagni said he would have loved to have brought both of those youngsters on board at GWS, but you can't have everything.
'We mulled over Longer and Wingard, but you've got to give something up to actually get those players,' Silvagni said.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Anthony Allen (Northern Knights coach)

DOB: 12/5/93. Ht: 202cm. Wt: 96kg.
Pos: Ruckman.
"Billy is the No.1 ruckman in Australia not playing AFL footy. Captain of the Vic Metro side and a dominant ruckman for his age. His hands and his tapping ability are first class and the improvement came this year with his contested marking and doing it pushing forward. His set shot goalkicking and physicality also improved out of sight. A laid-back sort of kid who has developed a harder edge over the past 18 months."

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Billy Longer

Michael Voss

We had a couple of contingencies for the first pick, because we weren't to sure what GWS was going to do, but we couldn't be more pleased with our first pick. We rated Billy in the top 5, so to get him at pick 8 is a bit of a bargain from our end, and not only that but we're able to bolster our talls. A combination of having Hudson there with Leuenberger is going to be really good with having Longer there.

Photo courtesy of Jorgo

 

[luthor]

Re: Billy Longer

My impressions:

Quality player

Quality person

Family influence on the Gold Coast

Seems to be ecstatic to be coming to the Lions

All good