Player Watch Ned Long

[domus]

Looked like a half-shank to me.

I think it was too!

 

[No SPIN]

Yeah, except Long fumbles and hasn't got great disposal. I'd suggest Macrae's got a higher ceiling. Long is what he is.

As a huge Macrae fan even I have to concede Long has gone past him.
Particularly as Long is improving with each game he plays.

 

[Vicky Park]

Not only did Ned win a contract extension - he’s also featuring in more media content coming out of the club.

A sure sign of his improvement and standing (at least for the more facile supporters like me).

 

[sr36]

His neck is ridiculously wide.

 

[Finnishpie]

As a huge Macrae fan even I have to concede Long has gone past him.
Particularly as Long is improving with each game he plays.

Yeah, he has gone past him. The future is unwritten.

 

[Finnishpie]

Playing his role is all we require. Doesn't need to be a star or as good as the others. Do whats required of him.

Exactly.

 

[Finnishpie]

His neck is ridiculously wide.

This is exactly the kind of comment we need more of.

 

[sr36]

This is exactly the kind of comment we need more of.

I'm of the view that Ned and Moore should swap necks. Ned's is much more suited to carrying Darcy's enormous scone. Darcy's neck on the other hand is always going to be susceptible to an overworking injury.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

I'm of the view that Ned and Moore should swap necks. Ned's is much more suited to carrying Darcy's enormous scone. Darcy's neck on the other hand is always going to be susceptible to an overworking injury.

This is still a better player insight than what Sam McClure could produce. A+

 

[Jen2310]

I suspect he’ll be in the 22 this week

 

[No SPIN]

Yeah, he has gone past him. The future is unwritten.

Nothing would please me more than also seeing Macrae make it.

 

[Reggie Mombasa]

While I’m loving Ned’s rise so far this year, it’s of note that he got little attention in the pre-season, on here or in the footy media. He was almost forgotten.

And then he’s in the best 23 for round zero, takes his opportunities, plays a role the club has clearly designated for him and bang - a contract extension.

No-one saw this coming, except maybe the coaches. Another lesson for us armchair experts who often have no clue about the club’s plans and strategies.

I hope you don’t mind the intrusion. I was really sorry to see the Hawks let Ned go, Collingwood have got a gem for nothing, and though I might provide some background on Ned:

- Ned is more than a battler who has broken through just on effort – he had a quality junior footy pedigree. Played in the Victorian U15 side that won the nationals undefeated in 2018 (with Josh Gibcus, Josh Ward, Connor McDonald, Ben Hobbs, Josh Sinn). This is the level before the Vic players are split into Metro and Country. He was also emergency for the Vic Metro U16 team that again won the nationals undefeated in 2019.

- Ned started his draft year (2021) very strongly in the NAB League for Northern Knights – 8 goals from the midfield in 3 dominant games, before a bad ankle injury put him out of action for the rest of the NAB League season. So he had limited NAB League exposure, no opportunity for Vic Metro selection, limited role at the combine, and basically fell off the recruitment radar.

- He had limited opportunities at the Hawks, who had a lot of midfield depth in 2022 and 2023 (the current group, plus Titch and Jaeger in 2022). Ned performed strongly at Box Hill, but when called up to the AFL was played at full forward, half forward flank, ruck (!), and wing, and often as sub. He was serviceable in those games, and it reinforced his versatility, but he had no continuity and no opportunities in his natural position as an inside mid.

I am enjoying seeing him play well and taking his opportunity at the Pies.

 

[Daicos Torpedo]

I hope you don’t mind the intrusion. I was really sorry to see the Hawks let Ned go, Collingwood have got a gem for nothing, and though I might provide some background on Ned:

- Ned is more than a battler who has broken through just on effort – he had a quality junior footy pedigree. Played in the Victorian U15 side that won the nationals undefeated in 2018 (with Josh Gibcus, Josh Ward, Connor McDonald, Ben Hobbs, Josh Sinn). This is the level before the Vic players are split into Metro and Country. He was also emergency for the Vic Metro U16 team that again won the nationals undefeated in 2019.

- Ned started his draft year (2021) very strongly in the NAB League for Northern Knights – 8 goals from the midfield in 3 dominant games, before a bad ankle injury put him out of action for the rest of the NAB League season. So he had limited NAB League exposure, no opportunity for Vic Metro selection, limited role at the combine, and basically fell off the recruitment radar.

- He had limited opportunities at the Hawks, who had a lot of midfield depth in 2022 and 2023 (the current group, plus Titch and Jaeger in 2022). Ned performed strongly at Box Hill, but when called up to the AFL was played at full forward, half forward flank, ruck (!), and wing, and often as sub. He was serviceable in those games, and it reinforced his versatility, but he had no continuity and no opportunities in his natural position as an inside mid.

I am enjoying seeing him play well and taking his opportunity at the Pies.

Thanks for the Intel. Really hoping he kicks on, and becomes a bargain bull for our midfield!

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

It'd be a miracle if he becomes as good as Mitchell or Adams have been.

It would be a miracle if he became a B&F/AA player for us like Adams was, and it would be a miracle if he became the competition possession leader and Brownlow winner that Tom Mitchell was at his best.

However, it would not take a miracle for him to become that competent inside midfielder who gets a body over the ball and uses his hands to feed the ball to the outside, that Tom Mitchell functionally was for us in 2023 when he was a key member of the flag team.

 

[VinnieB]

This kid was able to come in as sub, and again have an influence.
I was so wrong about Long. He is a gem.

 

[BillyElliott]

Sealed the game for us with that goal when he came on. So happy we saw something in him & persevered.

 

[VinnieB]

Sealed the game for us with that goal when he came on. So happy we saw something in him & perserved.

Just confirms I would be a hopeless coach/recruiter/list manager.

 

[Piesinmyeyes]

Once again impacted in the brief time he was on the ground.
Making good use of his minutes this yr.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Fast becoming our number one cult hero.

 

[jmac70]

Please, no more sub!

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Please, no more sub!

He’ll be on the roster for a while yet but unlike other clubs, Collingwood doesn’t go with the same player every week.

 

[VinnieB]

Please, no more sub!

I think Macrae said in the post match that he won’t be sub next week.

 

[Eric Shin]

Never going to be the sub again, surely!


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[sr36]

Never going to be the sub again, surely!


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

He will be. Pendles, Sidey, Nick, Crisp, Perryman, Jordy, maybe Mitchell to return - it's a tough midfield to crack.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

He will be. Pendles, Sidey, Nick, Crisp, Perryman, Jordy, maybe Mitchell to return - it's a tough midfield to crack.

One would think that Pendles, Sidey, Crisp and Mitchell could all rotate through taking turns as sub.

But he'll come into the side because Houston is getting suspended, so Long will move into the 22 with the sub spot open.