- Oct 9, 2009
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The Draft File: Pick 58 - Noah Long
The Eagles took their fifth pick in the 2022 draft and landed Noah Long from Echuca
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List Mgmt. Welcome Noah Long (Pick 58, 2022 National Draft)
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kane249
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Noah Long Draft Profile
Bendigo Pioneers midfielder-forward Noah Long has overcome injury to build on strong bottom-age form and push his AFL Draft case.
central.rookieme.com
Great spec pick.
Dark Sharks
Premium Kent
Redden.
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Already our best player.
Good to get a small forward prospect with Rioli leaving and Winder potentially out the door.
Monocle
And the rebuild begins.
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Very good pick up late in the draft. 
Gee we have added some foot speed to the list with this draft haul.
Gee we have added some foot speed to the list with this draft haul.
- Oct 9, 2009
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Had him in my top 5 of late picks. So this is a good result.
I had him in my top 55 so this is about right.
F#@k Yeah!
I'm working nights so only just caught up on who we drafted. This pick tops the draft off for me. Has been a quiet little favourite of mine but thought he would fall outside our draft range.
Nippy little pressure forward who's full on campaigner and has the ability to kick goals out of nowhere. This guy is going to be the type that oppo fans hate.
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I'm working nights so only just caught up on who we drafted. This pick tops the draft off for me. Has been a quiet little favourite of mine but thought he would fall outside our draft range.
Nippy little pressure forward who's full on campaigner and has the ability to kick goals out of nowhere. This guy is going to be the type that oppo fans hate.
Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk
Bit of a write-up on the young man.
‘It’s been a dream since I was a kid’: Noah no AFL Long shot as draft approaches
author avatar
By Josh Huntly
Oct 13, 2022
For Echuca’s AFL hopeful Noah Long, his dream of making it to the top level could soon become reality as the draft approaches in late November.
After a strong NAB AFL National Championships campaign for Victoria Country and last weekend’s AFL Draft Combine under his belt, the Echuca Football Netball Club product is shaping up as valuable small forward/midfield prospect.
Long has been touted as a second-round or early third-round selection at the draft, but that’s not on his mind right now — his focus is centred on enjoying the process.
“It’s been a dream since I was a kid (to be drafted), and it only turned into a goal in the last couple of years,” Long said.
“It always seemed so far away but to have it now only a month away still seems ridiculous.
“It’s more exciting now because the season’s done and there’s nothing else to it — there’s just the wait.
“I’m hoping to end up on a list next year but I’m just taking it all in at the moment and trying to enjoy it as much as possible.
"It’s something you dream about for ages and it’s just around the corner. It’s definitely nerve-wracking but it’s an exciting time.”
Draft hopefuls descended on Margaret Court Arena last weekend, participating in a range of tests before interviewing with AFL clubs.
“It’s a bit daunting at the start but you get pretty used to it after you have a few (interviews),” Long said.
“They were only 20-minute talks so not massive, once you get a few under your belt you get pretty comfortable and get to show them who you actually are.”
Long’s best performance came in the agility test, where his 8.34-second run saw him finish in the top 10.
He catapulted himself into draft calculations after a strong NAB AFL National Championships campaign, including a three-goal haul against Western Australia, but his road to the draft hasn’t been an easy one.
A broken collarbone in his first Bendigo Pioneers game for the campaign presented an early-season setback but, as Long explained, that setback proved to be a blessing in disguise as the midfielder added another element to his game.
“At the beginning, the first emotions I felt were anger and disappointment, because it’s your draft year and you want to put your best foot forward,” Long said.
“A couple of days after surgery my focus shifted to ‘how can I make this better for myself.’
“I turned to the coaching staff and kept helping out at training and getting myself in better condition.
“Once I returned, I started adapting to a new role down forward, something that I haven’t played a whole heap of in the past.
“It was a bit of a blessing in disguise; I ended up being able to showcase my forward ability which then gives me another string to my bow in the future.”
Long balances preparing for football life with his Year 12 studies at Geelong Grammar, and the born-and-bred local conceded it was initially an intimidating prospect shifting three hours down the highway.
“It was quite daunting as a boy in Year 9 that lived at home his whole life to face the reality of living independently in Geelong, three hours away from home,” Long said.
“There are great mentors at the school and great resources that made my move seamless in a sense.
“It’s something I haven’t really looked back on. It’s held me in perfect stead, no matter what happens next year I’ll be moving out of home.
“Moving down in Year 10, I sort of saw that as ‘yeah, this is my opportunity to have a really big crack.’
"Coming into Year 11 and playing for Vic Country under-17s as well as playing a few school games just made me feel like I’m up to it and that I’m good enough.“
As a smaller option, Long said Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale was a player he strived to model his game on.
“For me, he’s a wonderful role model because a smaller midfielder, a smaller player,” Long said.
“He builds his game off his clean hands, and I feel like that’s an area I was naturally gifted, that clean approach at ground level. I’ve seen that as an area to make my weapon.
“When you’re a smaller type you need to give a bit more to keep up with the rest of the pack.
“He’s someone that gives the smaller kids a bit of hope into how good you can be at the next level.”
With Echuca nominated as his community club, Long has been keeping close tabs on the Murray Bombers in season 2022, and despite not donning the Bottle Green this season said he was thrilled to see the club attain premiership success.
“It was great seeing the amount of (Echcua) teams in grand final day this year and finally seeing the seniors getting some reward for effort,” he said.
“I’ve been in Echuca long enough and supported them through the journey and it was great to see the end result.”
The NAB AFL Draft will take place from November 28-29.
‘It’s been a dream since I was a kid’: Noah no AFL Long shot as draft approaches
author avatar
By Josh Huntly
Oct 13, 2022
For Echuca’s AFL hopeful Noah Long, his dream of making it to the top level could soon become reality as the draft approaches in late November.
After a strong NAB AFL National Championships campaign for Victoria Country and last weekend’s AFL Draft Combine under his belt, the Echuca Football Netball Club product is shaping up as valuable small forward/midfield prospect.
Long has been touted as a second-round or early third-round selection at the draft, but that’s not on his mind right now — his focus is centred on enjoying the process.
“It’s been a dream since I was a kid (to be drafted), and it only turned into a goal in the last couple of years,” Long said.
“It always seemed so far away but to have it now only a month away still seems ridiculous.
“It’s more exciting now because the season’s done and there’s nothing else to it — there’s just the wait.
“I’m hoping to end up on a list next year but I’m just taking it all in at the moment and trying to enjoy it as much as possible.
"It’s something you dream about for ages and it’s just around the corner. It’s definitely nerve-wracking but it’s an exciting time.”
Draft hopefuls descended on Margaret Court Arena last weekend, participating in a range of tests before interviewing with AFL clubs.
“It’s a bit daunting at the start but you get pretty used to it after you have a few (interviews),” Long said.
“They were only 20-minute talks so not massive, once you get a few under your belt you get pretty comfortable and get to show them who you actually are.”
Long’s best performance came in the agility test, where his 8.34-second run saw him finish in the top 10.
He catapulted himself into draft calculations after a strong NAB AFL National Championships campaign, including a three-goal haul against Western Australia, but his road to the draft hasn’t been an easy one.
A broken collarbone in his first Bendigo Pioneers game for the campaign presented an early-season setback but, as Long explained, that setback proved to be a blessing in disguise as the midfielder added another element to his game.
“At the beginning, the first emotions I felt were anger and disappointment, because it’s your draft year and you want to put your best foot forward,” Long said.
“A couple of days after surgery my focus shifted to ‘how can I make this better for myself.’
“I turned to the coaching staff and kept helping out at training and getting myself in better condition.
“Once I returned, I started adapting to a new role down forward, something that I haven’t played a whole heap of in the past.
“It was a bit of a blessing in disguise; I ended up being able to showcase my forward ability which then gives me another string to my bow in the future.”
Long balances preparing for football life with his Year 12 studies at Geelong Grammar, and the born-and-bred local conceded it was initially an intimidating prospect shifting three hours down the highway.
“It was quite daunting as a boy in Year 9 that lived at home his whole life to face the reality of living independently in Geelong, three hours away from home,” Long said.
“There are great mentors at the school and great resources that made my move seamless in a sense.
“It’s something I haven’t really looked back on. It’s held me in perfect stead, no matter what happens next year I’ll be moving out of home.
“Moving down in Year 10, I sort of saw that as ‘yeah, this is my opportunity to have a really big crack.’
"Coming into Year 11 and playing for Vic Country under-17s as well as playing a few school games just made me feel like I’m up to it and that I’m good enough.“
As a smaller option, Long said Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale was a player he strived to model his game on.
“For me, he’s a wonderful role model because a smaller midfielder, a smaller player,” Long said.
“He builds his game off his clean hands, and I feel like that’s an area I was naturally gifted, that clean approach at ground level. I’ve seen that as an area to make my weapon.
“When you’re a smaller type you need to give a bit more to keep up with the rest of the pack.
“He’s someone that gives the smaller kids a bit of hope into how good you can be at the next level.”
With Echuca nominated as his community club, Long has been keeping close tabs on the Murray Bombers in season 2022, and despite not donning the Bottle Green this season said he was thrilled to see the club attain premiership success.
“It was great seeing the amount of (Echcua) teams in grand final day this year and finally seeing the seniors getting some reward for effort,” he said.
“I’ve been in Echuca long enough and supported them through the journey and it was great to see the end result.”
The NAB AFL Draft will take place from November 28-29.
- Oct 9, 2009
- 11,249
- 12,017
- AFL Club
- West Coast
- Thread starter
- #14
The forward role is only temporary after returning from injury right? Won't keep him out of the midfield longterm?
For those of you who want to watch some of Long's top NAB League games here are two to check out:
Round 16 - Bendigo Pioneers v Murray Bushrangers
30 disposals and a goal
2022 NAB League Boys
Elimination final - Bendigo Pioneers v Tasmania Devils
24 disposals and a goal
2022 NAB League Boys
Round 16 - Bendigo Pioneers v Murray Bushrangers
30 disposals and a goal
2022 NAB League Boys
Elimination final - Bendigo Pioneers v Tasmania Devils
24 disposals and a goal
2022 NAB League Boys
I think he did so well they might develop him as a small forward given how well he did. Still it's pretty great to have the potential to do both.
A upgrade on Zac Langdon
Dark sharks would be an upgrade on langdon
Very good pick up late in the draft.
Gee we have added some foot speed to the list with this draft haul.
gee this draft has some speed
Also has some clean hands by the looks. Can’t remember too many players drafted in recent times where clean hands and ground ball were listed as strengths of our draftees.
Has been a real weakness of the squad for a long time now and it’s not really something that can be developed.
Eastern Rangers
2015 Worsfold Medalist - Rowen Powell
Apart from looking dynamic and dangerous around the goals it's great to have him alongside Cody.
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Stoked with this pick.
Thought we had missed him and that Geelong would snap him up in the rookie draft.
L.Neale vibes with his size and how good his hands are - has admitted that he has modelled his game off Neale and it's a compliment to his work and ability that he looks the part.
Could be the best player at the club by hand already. I really rate his ability off the deck - we have got a vacuum cleaner here.
And then he has acceleration. He can turn at burst away from stoppages.
But above all he is a player with good footy 'smarts'. Great vision, decisions, game-awareness. He is a player that makes his team-mates better.
Incredible that the club were able to land him at pick 58.
His intelligence on-field is what makes him so dangerous in the forward half of the ground.
It will be interesting to see how he develops as he has attributes that could make him a far more expansive player than just a forward pocket.
With man-mountains of the likes of Culley and Ginbey hitting the packs, there could end up ample opportunity for a smaller body to rotate through and clean-up off them.
Joins Burgiel as the second Vic Country player to the Eagles in this draft.
Shoutout also to the assist to (new Eagle team-mate) Burgiel in the highlights package.
Welcome to West Coast Noah.
Thought we had missed him and that Geelong would snap him up in the rookie draft.
L.Neale vibes with his size and how good his hands are - has admitted that he has modelled his game off Neale and it's a compliment to his work and ability that he looks the part.
Could be the best player at the club by hand already. I really rate his ability off the deck - we have got a vacuum cleaner here.
And then he has acceleration. He can turn at burst away from stoppages.
But above all he is a player with good footy 'smarts'. Great vision, decisions, game-awareness. He is a player that makes his team-mates better.
Incredible that the club were able to land him at pick 58.
His intelligence on-field is what makes him so dangerous in the forward half of the ground.
It will be interesting to see how he develops as he has attributes that could make him a far more expansive player than just a forward pocket.
With man-mountains of the likes of Culley and Ginbey hitting the packs, there could end up ample opportunity for a smaller body to rotate through and clean-up off them.
Joins Burgiel as the second Vic Country player to the Eagles in this draft.
Shoutout also to the assist to (new Eagle team-mate) Burgiel in the highlights package.
Welcome to West Coast Noah.
THE A5
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You just know he’s getting turned into a HFF year or small forward
That’s not a bad thing though
We’ve historically had issues shoehorning mids into a HHF role that they simply weren’t suited to - Partington, O’Neill, West, Winder, Masten, Priddis etc etc
At least this guy has played that role with some success so he can play as a half forward until, and if, he develops physically enough to run through the midfield more regularly
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