Player Watch Ned Long

[thebaldfacts]

Has been a revelation this year. For those who wanted him desisted last year (of which l was one of those) l gladly admit l was wrong.

The other benefit is that he is cheap as chips. Probably playing for a low base wage plus match payments when we signed him up for 2 years. Means we have more flexibility in our cap and can possibly retain more of our experienced players, if we so choose.

 

[VinnieB]

Its Ned's to lose, thats for sure.
Just whether you can play them both in the same team is the question.

Good to have Mitchell as depth.

 

[TradeDraft]

I’ll say it again, but this guy is an absolute godsend to our footy club.
We’ve been screaming out for an inside mid beast for… ever. And we get gifted this guy for free. Add his tank and impeccable character, and he’s literally like a well chosen top 3 pick for us… that has already matured.

It must be footy karma for passing up Cripps and even Holmes, because he is the perfect foil for Nick, JDG, and the other young mids coming through.

Sign him to an 8 year deal pls…

When we won the Flags in 2010 and 2023 we had that Gun Inside Mid in Ball in 2010 and Mitchell in 2023

Even when we made the 2018 GF we had Sier playing his best footy at the Club

 

[granniewolf]

Has been a revelation this year. For those who wanted him desisted last year (of which l was one of those) l gladly admit l was wrong.

The other benefit is that he is cheap as chips. Probably playing for a low base wage plus match payments when we signed him up for 2 years. Means we have more flexibility in our cap and can possibly retain more of our experienced players, if we so choose.

Ned's contract is only until 2027. if he's on a really low salary it would be a good idea for Collingwood to offer a new contract with a pay upgrade.
You can bet other clubs will be sniffing around before long ( no pun intended)

 

[Pendles!]

When we won the Flags in 2010 and 2023 we had that Gun Inside Mid in Ball in 2010 and Mitchell in 2023

Even when we made the 2018 GF we had Sier playing his best footy at the Club

Spot on, but those blokes only last 1-2 years (Mitchell not done yet?) and then we had to go searching again. Long at 22 is hopefully with us and doing this for the next 10 years.

 

[TradeDraft]

Spot on, but those blokes only last 1-2 years (Mitchell not done yet?) and then we had to go searching again. Long at 22 is hopefully with us and doing this for the next 10 years.

Yep be good IF he can keep up this Performance for rest of his Career as still just 22 as you said

 

[TradeDraft]

Hopefully Long has at least play 10 or more Seasons

 

[cakewalk06]

When we won the Flags in 2010 and 2023 we had that Gun Inside Mid in Ball in 2010 and Mitchell in 2023

Even when we made the 2018 GF we had Sier playing his best footy at the Club

This is so true Dave.. after those few golden but ultimately heartbreaking weeks in 2018 I thought the Bear was going to go on to great things. It still hurts

 

[Antz]

Ned's contract is only until 2027. if he's on a really low salary it would be a good idea for Collingwood to offer a new contract with a pay upgrade.
You can bet other clubs will be sniffing around before long ( no pun intended)

What's his current salary?

If he plays like this for the rest of the season, I'm sure we'll extend his contract and give him the salary he deserves.

 

[thebaldfacts]

Ned's contract is only until 2027. if he's on a really low salary it would be a good idea for Collingwood to offer a new contract with a pay upgrade.
You can bet other clubs will be sniffing around before long ( no pun intended)

No doubt that he would be offered a fair and appropriate contract based on his performance over the next few years. No difference from Darcy Cameron who has earned the right for a significant increase in his contract.

 

[granniewolf]

No doubt that he would be offered a fair and appropriate contract based on his performance over the next few years. No difference from Darcy Cameron who has earned the right for a significant increase in his contract.

Totally agree, DC should be paid what he is worth. Just hope it comes from us and not someone else.

 

[Jen2310]

1. NICK’S LONG LUNCH

Collingwood has the yin and yang in the engine room.

While Nick Daicos has the biggest licence in the league to play on instinct with his majestic ballwininng and sublime delivery, every Friday he should be buying Ned Long lunch.

The man who was cut from Hawthorn two years ago looks like one of the best pick-ups of recent times as he prepares to take on his old Hawthorn teammates on Friday night.

Last year’s mid-season draftee is on a minimum chips contract after signing a two-year extension late last year.

On Saturday night against a North Melbourne team full off early draft picks, Long dominated racking up 29 disposals, 15 score involvements and 14 tackles.
And it is that commitment to doing the team thing and tough stuff on the inside is what allows Daicos to spread his wings on transition.

North was in the hunt for the first half on Saturday night but Daicos and Co. blew the Roos away in the second half with the Brownlow Medal favourite racking up 28 of his touches and 617 metres gained after the main change.

It was one of the biggest change of gears we have seen this season as a half-strength Collingwood side put the young Roos to the sword late.

Long has moved on from his Hawthorn delisting two years ago.

But there will be some part of him which will have a point to prove against his old mates as he looks to win a flag with his new friends this year.

Surely, Daicos can shout a long lunch every so often.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/the-tackle-jay-clarks-likes-and-dislikes-from-round-11/news-story/3b965bef686afdbc0210dd1bce62c288

 

[thebaldfacts]

Coaches MVP for the second time this season. Coaches giving him the credit he deserves.

 

[No SPIN]

Coaches MVP for the second time this season. Coaches giving him the credit he deserves.

“Stop Long” - the new bullet point on all opposition white boards, added just below “Stop Nick”.

 

[ipswichpies]

I can't add much to the praise that's already been dropped in this thread, but he's fast become my favourite player. We've been dying for a genuine contested beast since Sir Scott Burns called it quits. And now we get...

...the manic, bone-crunching, try-to-hurt-them tackling. His tackles NEVER get broken.

...the hard-ball desperation. He simply refuses to lose a contest.

...the sneaky reliable goalkicking. He's on four goals from seven starts and constantly bobs up in the right places.

...and most importantly, the ability to absorb a tackle, draw a second opponent, and get the handpass out to the now-free man. That play is the lifeblood of our attacking gameplan. The sheer number of times we get an absolutely clean break from what would otherwise be a stoppage situation, which results in lightning movement to an open forwardline, all thanks to Ned bulldozing through multiple guys and using his insanely clever handpass to set a teammate free.

...and to top it all off, he's the perfect foil for Nick, allowing him to be the second possession from the contest instead of the first. We get another 10+ years of these two, and they're only gonna get better.

And all this from a 22 year old dude who's played less than a dozen games, WHO WE GOT FOR FREE.

His season stacks up favourably against Cripps, Rowell, Newcombe, any of the much more highly touted inside mids. At 22 years old. For free.

He's doing so damn well that he's gonna give our list management the freedom to explore trades and FA options which aren't inside bulls - which is a luxury we simply wouldn't have without him. 22. Free.

Anyway yeah Ned's my favourite player.

Love this post, 100% on the money and yes he kicks some goals but his DE of 79 is very good for an inside mid.

 

[ipswichpies]

Coaches MVP for the second time this season. Coaches giving him the credit he deserves.

It is easy to forget he has only played 10 or 12 games total for us and Hawthorn and was mostly just handball it on but now is starting to look for better options. I think if his form continues or even more likely improves with more confidence and experience he gains we may need to extend his contract again.

I think he is huge factor for nick in the future and the chemistry between them grows I think it is quite good already,I was always keen on Ned but he is coming on in leaps and bounds but the 29 touches when we lost players before the match was outstanding for us.

 

[Daicos Torpedo]

I've been on the fence so far this year, but Ned's form is too compelling for me to not have a man crush on the big brute!

 

[Pistol Night]

I've been on the fence so far this year, but Ned's form is too compelling for me to not have a man crush on the big brute!

Cripps is now Temu Ned

 

[nickyds35]

Loved hearing bucks say Ned Long will be our best midfielder for the next 10 years (then quickly corrected himself to say outside of Nick).

Pretty much said Ned Long has everything required to be a long-term gun. Power, aggression, work ethic and running power.

His closest comparison are players like Cripps/Josh Kennedy, and in my humble opinion, I think he is on par with players like Josh Dunkley

5

Josh Dunkley

Age

29

Ht

191cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.8

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.3

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

20.7

5star

K

7.0

3star

HB

13.7

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

5.3

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

14.2

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

7.0

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

4.0

5star

CL

1.4

4star

and Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

25

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

, although I think it will take a while for the competition to acknowledge this.

The part of his game that has suprised me the most is his decision-making. Is very damaging with hand ball, and tbh, seems like he knows his limiations with kicking and plays accordingly by either going safe with a kick or kicking it 50+ meters down the line to a contect.

Having another very good midfield locked in along side Nick for the next 10 years gives us a lot of flexability.

 

[nickyds35]

Long's career best game

Ned Long played a starring role in Collingwood's 45-point victory against North Melbourne, gathering 29 disposals, 15 score involvements, and 14 tackles.

www.collingwoodfc.com.au

Wow some of the attacking handballs in this highlights package package is next level.

The thing with Ned is (and Lipinski and to a lesser extend Ed Allan need to take notes on) is that he has impact and presence at every contest. Whethers its a clearance, hand-ball chain or tackling, he impacts.

 

[Ted Parker]

The dump truck as moved into the Top 5 for pressure acts, the youngest player in the Top20. What a season he's producing.

 

[nahnah]

His ability to stand up and ride tackles allows him to forward handball when most would have to handball backwards, it really fits well with what we want to do

 

[granniewolf]

His ability to stand up and ride tackles allows him to forward handball when most would have to handball backwards, it really fits well with what we want to do

Couldn't believe it when watching the replay saw two players ( think 2) picked him up and dumped him on the ground.
New way to tackle?

 

[Pistol Night]

The dump truck as moved into the Top 5 for pressure acts, the youngest player in the Top20. What a season he's producing.

View attachment 2325652

A couple of times i noticed Xerri trying to bullock his way past DC and others at the contest until Long brought him back to earth. The midfielder out muscling the oppo ruckman is a bit rare. This bloke is a beast

 

[thebigsaveloy]

He's had so much more composure the past 5 or 6 weeks with the ball in hand, less rushing has allowed his surprisingly good decision-making to shine and his game has gone to a new level.

He seems like a very hard-working, humble, practical guy and I think training with guys like Pendles and Nick each day has been especially beneficial for someone like him.