Player Watch Ned Long

[anshell]

He’s very humble and team oriented.He just wants to do what’s best for the team rather than for himself.No wonder Fly loves him.He’s just the sort of player he wants in the team.

 

[Len Smith Medallist]

I’m loving the low scooping handballs he makes with great vision.

They go low and fast. Unique style.

He was great again tonight. I wish he had gone back and nailed that set shot in the dying minutes against his old mob who delisted him.

Professional decision not to. He knows his strengths.

 

[Doc1763]

Ned dodged a bullet

 

[Jen2310]

His first win against his old side.

 

[3rdMan]

Really good article. My 2 outtakes:

1. Ned seems like such a humble person. The way he speaks highly of the Hawks midfield and holds no grudges speaks volumes of the type of person he is. I want him to have a long and successful career.
2. Can we make sure Fraser and Otten receive a hefty referral bonus?

Getting some attention from the media after games now and speaks very well.

Especially with Mitch and Jordy missing it's hard to imagine a better type of mid to add to our mix. Then there's his performances which have been better than the most optimistic outsider could have hoped for.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

The cheer for Ned Long when they introduce the players is getting really close to Nick Daicos

 

[Jen2310]

The cheer for Ned Long when they introduce the players is getting really close to Nick Daicos

I noticed that too

 

[gouki88]

Love his little tap ons instead of taking possession. Clever player

 

[Kirby]

It doesn’t seem real, but it really is.

We are kissed on the clacker to have him.

 

[Eric Shin]

Singlehandedly changed the dynamic of our midfield this kid.

 

[NMBB]

He’s very humble and team oriented.He just wants to do what’s best for the team rather than for himself.No wonder Fly loves him.He’s just the sort of player he wants in the team.

Love his flexibility, adaptability and strength of character


I mean he went from Northcote High to Melbourne Grammar ffs

PS - he didn't lose any of his many decent qualities either - well done Ned

 

[joff]

Congrats to our recruitment team someone saw something in ned all other teams missed and we are reaping the rewards from that now and will be for the next ten years or so

 

[Rustin Cohle]

One of his best traits is that he takes time when shovelling out handballs in congestion and always looks to the corridor first when doing it.

His potential is so exciting.

 

[Tadpole]

From the mid season draft, to this. He's sure come a very Long way in a short space of time. Hokball's loss is our gain. They shoulda gone to Specsavers if they couldn't see his potential down there.

 

[FireKrakouer]

Ned Long counted to infinity - twice! I heard that he can divide by zero.

 

[Scodog10]

His story seems to grow weekly at this point and the only comparison I have is Crisp’s evolution from steak knives to club great.

The ability to add different layers to his game within season has been extraordinary. He starts the year as a stopper/ defensive mid (scan this thread and 8 weeks ago there were references to Wills), he then goes and adds tackle absorption to create space for teammates, then he starts showing running power that shouldn’t be allowed for a guy his size and last night I’m watching him exit contest shoulders forward which basically makes him unstoppable once he starts driving his legs (unless you’re an elite tackler).

He’s got some work to do on the consistency of his ball winning because he’s still somewhat low possession by role, but if he can jump from a weekly mid teens to low twenties up to a high 20’s player he has the potential to become AA standard.

 

[manicpie]

His story seems to grow weekly at this point and the only comparison I have is Crisp’s evolution from steak knives to club great.

The ability to add different layers to his game within season has been extraordinary. He starts the year as a stopper/ defensive mid (scan this thread and 8 weeks ago there were references to Wills), he then goes and adds tackle absorption to create space for teammates, then he starts showing running power that shouldn’t be allowed for a guy his size and last night I’m watching him exit contest shoulders forward which basically makes him unstoppable once he starts driving his legs (unless you’re an elite tackler).

He’s got some work to do on the consistency of his ball winning because he’s still somewhat low possession by role, but if he can jump from a weekly mid teens to low twenties up to a high 20’s player he has the potential to become AA standard.

He seemed to have a bit of a defensive role in the first half on Newcombe, and did quite well. The second half was more McCreery on Newcombe and long was given more reign. He's a special player and we're really lucky to have a player of his type. There's a bit of Cripps about him

 

[VinnieB]

Hawk fans bleeding!

Ned was better than every one of their midfielders yesterday evening.

Arguably put in a better 7 weeks than all of them as well.

Sometimes the right coach can bring out the best in a player.

 

[Scodog10]

He seemed to have a bit of a defensive role in the first half on Newcombe, and did quite well. The second half was more McCreery on Newcombe and long was given more reign. He's a special player and we're really lucky to have a player of his type. There's a bit of Cripps about him

There is in the way he can create space for his teammates, but Cripps has never had that running power to take the game on. That part of his game is proving to be Dangerfieldesque.

I’m definitely not saying he’s a blend of those two BTW more that he’s got certain traits of theirs. For instance he can’t read it off hands like Cripps or attack the contest like Danger, but he looks every bit the 200 game AA type. On a separate note it’s clear me as to why he’s so humble towards Hawthorn it was a case of square peg round hole when they already had Worpel, Newcombe, Nash and then Hustwaite at VFL level.

 

[VinnieB]

He seemed to have a bit of a defensive role in the first half on Newcombe, and did quite well. The second half was more McCreery on Newcombe and long was given more reign. He's a special player and we're really lucky to have a player of his type. There's a bit of Cripps about him

Newcombe finally has a player put some pressure on him and he becomes completely ineffective.

This guy never chases and allows his backline to struggle. Just watches opposition midfielders stream forward.

 

[Vicky Park]

I noticed that too

Me too!!

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Ned Long counted to infinity - twice! I heard that he can divide by zero.

When Ned Long does push ups, he doesn't push himself up, he pushes the Earth down.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Hawk fans bleeding!

Ned was better than every one of their midfielders yesterday evening.

Arguably put in a better 7 weeks than all of them as well.

Sometimes the right coach can bring out the best in a player.

It's a combination of coach, opportunities, game plan.

Ginnivan is a way better player at Hawthorn than he was at Collingwood. Is that the coach or, the game plan, or opportunity?

 

[Kilmo]

It's a combination of coach, opportunities, game plan.

Ginnivan is a way better player at Hawthorn than he was at Collingwood. Is that the coach or, the game plan, or opportunity?

Is he? He had a good game last night. But was playing for Box Hill a few weeks ago. He had some good games for us too

 

[Exambolor]

Hawk fans bleeding!

Ned was better than every one of their midfielders yesterday evening.

Arguably put in a better 7 weeks than all of them as well.

Sometimes the right coach can bring out the best in a player.

He got almost as many tackles on his own (11) than the Hawks entire midfield (13)