Player Watch Ned Long

[NMBB]

Another solid game with awkward disposal

Kicked a good goal

 

[TradeDraft]

Big Part of our Midfield at the Moment with his Grunt

 

[whiskeytown]

21 disposals
6 tackles
5 clearances

Showed last week was no fluke

 

[Silky23]

His ability to stand up in a tackle and through contact to get the handball dish out is exceptional.

We have been crying out for a player of his calibre. So happy for Longy.

The start of hopefully a long and strong career.

 

[Vicky Park]

The Fox footy after game crew - other than for Sarah who at least is trying to muster up some enthusiasm - look like they’ve been to a funeral. Who died?

 

[TradeDraft]

The Fox footy after game crew - other than for Sarah who at least is trying to muster up some enthusiasm - look like they’ve been to a funeral. Who died?

Well they are from the Lions Cheersquad

 

[rand corp]

A solid, workman-like performance in the boiler room. Getting it done well is Ned.

 

[gouki88]

Another solid game with awkward disposal

I kind of enjoy the way he smashes it forward

 

[northcotehead]

Not only breaks tackles but has a cheeky sidestep and swivels the hips and gets the handball out.

 

[3rdMan]

A good solid game. Impossible to know where to apportion credit, but our work around the ball was great all game. Completely blunted one of the top midfields. Barely noticed Neale, McCluggage or any of their mids. We had them on the back foot, counter attacking all game.

So while I can not individualise this impact, Ned was part of it and did not do anything that suggests he should not be playing. Big tick against quality opposition.

 

[jimmy35]

The Fox footy after game crew - other than for Sarah who at least is trying to muster up some enthusiasm - look like they’ve been to a funeral. Who died?

Their hopes and dreams.

 

[sr36]

The Fox footy after game crew - other than for Sarah who at least is trying to muster up some enthusiasm - look like they’ve been to a funeral. Who died?

Leigh Montagna had a sly sneaky grin about him. He likes the Pies.

 

[Pendles!]

I thought Ned was fantastic. You can tell his short kicking needs a lot of work and he’s not all that comfortable, but the big body and intensity around the contest improves us so much. Only young too so should continue to improve. Fly loves him.

Leigh Montagna had a sly sneaky grin about him. He likes the Pies.

Leigh is one of the best at the moment. I really enjoy listening to him speak.

 

[3rdMan]

Leigh Montagna had a sly sneaky grin about him. He likes the Pies.

Do we know if he was a Pies fan? Answered Collingwood trivia questions perfectly on Fox, eg. Number of bounces taken in McGuane's famous goal.

 

[gerryg400]

Do we know if he was a Pies fan? Answered Collingwood trivia questions perfectly on Fox, eg. Number of bounces taken in McGuane's famous goal.

He said last week that he was a Pie fan growing up.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

His ability to stand up in a tackle and through contact to get the handball dish out is exceptional.

We have been crying out for a player of his calibre. So happy for Longy.

The start of hopefully a long and strong career.

He is doing what I thought DeGoey could do.

 

[Grapie]

It is not too much of an exaggeration to conclude that Ned Long has transformed the Collingwood team.
As one of the commentators said last night on Fox, he is allowing the other midfielders to stand wider at centre bounces etc, which allows them space when receiving hand passes.
In the three games Ned has been in the starting 22 this year we have smashed Port, Swans and Brisbane.

 

[TW Sherrin]

As he tidies up his quick hands his will go to another level. Just a few hitting the deck atm which I'm sure he'll fix over time.

 

[Magpie Since 1986]

In 2023 Tom Mitchell was a huge part of our success with that inside extractor defensive tackling role that made all our stars' life easier. In 2024 we badly missed that. Ned Long has given us that again in 2025.

 

[BigVic]

Will only improve this year

 

[magpies42]

Long live long!
Is a very dominant player, making it very easy for the others, similar to Taylor Adam’s in that regard.
His kicking though, don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse kick. Cox looking to hand off to somebody who can kick and chooses Long…I take Cox every day of the week in that situation!

 

[TradeDraft]

Long live long!
Is a very dominant player, making it very easy for the others, similar to Taylor Adam’s in that regard.
His kicking though, don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse kick. Cox looking to hand off to somebody who can kick and chooses Long…I take Cox every day of the week in that situation!

Taylor Adams could also been a Terrible Kick as well

 

[Ctracks]

Neds kick is no worse than Ben Johnson as an example

 

[manicpie]

Long live long!
Is a very dominant player, making it very easy for the others, similar to Taylor Adam’s in that regard.
His kicking though, don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse kick. Cox looking to hand off to somebody who can kick and chooses Long…I take Cox every day of the week in that situation!

He has a slightly awkward kicking action that makes people automatically assume he's not a good kick. His kicking is fine. Be grateful what we have here because he's a big reason for our resurgence

 

[Vankri]

He has a slightly awkward kicking action that makes people automatically assume he's not a good kick. His kicking is fine. Be grateful what we have here because he's a big reason for our resurgence

I don’t mind it because his other strengths make up for it but his kicking action makes it more obvious where he’s going to kick it to and limits his ability to quickly find angles. It stands out for the wrong reason in a midfield made of Nick Pendles and Sidey. He knows though that his role to absorb the tackle and do a release handball when possible.