Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Ned Long Pick 5, 2021 Rookie Draft

[CaptainWorpedo]

If they're right to play, play them. Doesn't matter if it's the last game, they need more game time.

Listen to Mitchell’s conference from yesterday. I doubt they’ll be right!

It’ll give another young player a chance to develop and show his skills.

 

[Reggie Mombasa]

I agree, unfortunately he is a one paced beast, he will not be able to transition to the next level IMO, with much respect.

Long is 20 and has played 5 games. He was sub in two of those, so hasn't played consecutive full games. In those games he has played full-forward, ruck, high forward, and wing and has been serviceable. In the 4 games this year has had only 11 CBAs as an inside mid. His one wood is his combination of strength, endurance and intensity as an inside mid, and he has probably been the best and most consistent inside mid for Box Hill this year. He has showed some good things - nearly ran down Neal-Bullen in the goal square from well back yesterday, and had a great contested mark under a floating pass on the wing. Let's not ship him off to the Swans just yet.

 

[SSSSSS]

Think he might make it as an AFL player but not with us unfortunately.

 

[Dipper Here]

Wishing Ned all the best moving forward and hope that he gets another shot at it elsewhere.

Felt he deserved more game time in 2023 but that's the brutal reality of this great game.

Go well mate!!!

 

[daniel23]

Sydney will snap him up

 

[Bugs1977]

The only thing holding him back is his agility. Unfortunately I just don’t think it’s something everyone can improve on or not to the degree that he needs to succeed at AFL level.

 

[Alite]

Delisted Hawk joins Collingwood reserves

The youngster is eyeing a second-chance at an AFL career via the VFL.

www.zerohanger.com

 

[Slainte]

"with the rise of fellow sizeable mids like Jai Newcombe and Will Day, he has struggled to find a firm spot in the Hawks midfield mix."

Connor Nash flies under the radar again.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Honestly surprised clarko didn't take him at north. They are bereft of big bodies, so even in the short term he'd have helped. It's not about wins for them though...

 

[Brant]

Honestly surprised clarko didn't take him at north. They are bereft of big bodies, so even in the short term he'd have helped. It's not about wins for them though...

Their midfield is pretty stacked, it's the one area they're not Fitzroy-easque.

Did Shiels go again?

 

[theiaofseed]

Their midfield is pretty stacked, it's the one area they're not Fitzroy-easque.

Did Shiels go again?

Yes he did, which says lot about their list.

LDU(Gun), Thomas(poison chalice), Simpkin(average), Wardlaw(injury,unproven), Phillps(poor), Mckercher(unproven), Sheezel(gun).

For a team thats finished bottom 2 four years in a row, wow thats a shocking midfield.

 

[Brant]

For a team thats finished bottom 2 four years in a row, wow thats a shocking midfield.

Shocking, it may be, but it's 10x better than their Forwardline or Defensive Back 6-7

It's quite amazing, the lack of talent they've acquired.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Shocking, it may be, but it's 10x better than their Forwardline or Defensive Back 6-7

It's quite amazing, the lack of talent they've acquired.

Clarkson will need to do some pretty heavy coaching of the press and the flood in order to keep that backline from delivering another spoon.

 

[Slainte]

Yes he did, which says lot about their list.

LDU(Gun), Thomas(poison chalice), Simpkin(average), Wardlaw(injury,unproven), Phillps(poor), Mckercher(unproven), Sheezel(gun).

For a team thats finished bottom 2 four years in a row, wow thats a shocking midfield.

Simpkin is the puzzler of that group. A couple of seasons back he was shaping up as the new Joel Selwood. However, he hasn't developed and, instead, has probably gone backwards.

 

[Brant]

Clarkson will need to do some pretty heavy coaching of the press and the flood in order to keep that backline from delivering another spoon.

Zero win season coming up.

 

[tl92]

Yes he did, which says lot about their list.

LDU(Gun), Thomas(poison chalice), Simpkin(average), Wardlaw(injury,unproven), Phillps(poor), Mckercher(unproven), Sheezel(gun).

For a team thats finished bottom 2 four years in a row, wow thats a shocking midfield.

LDU gun, Thomas Gun, Sheezel Gun
Mckercher and Wardlaw very likely to be guns. Simpkin B grade. Phillips unknown. That’s a decent midfield. Could easily be the top midfield in a few years.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Yes he did, which says lot about their list.

LDU(Gun), Thomas(poison chalice), Simpkin(average), Wardlaw(injury,unproven), Phillps(poor), Mckercher(unproven), Sheezel(gun).

For a team thats finished bottom 2 four years in a row, wow thats a shocking midfield.

LDU and Sheezel are deadset A graders though.

Shouldn't be that hard to build a pretty competitive midfield around those two, just need some solid B graders to compliment them.

 

[H00t]

Simpkin is the puzzler of that group. A couple of seasons back he was shaping up as the new Joel Selwood. However, he hasn't developed and, instead, has probably gone backwards.

It’s the North way

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

Sheezel isn't a midfielder yet. He's a gun as a loose HB and will likely easily transition into the mid the way Nick Daicos did. But probably a bit early to call him the cornerstone of their new midfield. I'd say it's more likely to be LDU, McKercher and Wardlaw with Sheezel the support.

 

[TDS7]

Sheezel isn't a midfielder yet. He's a gun as a loose HB and will likely easily transition into the mid the way Nick Daicos did. But probably a bit early to call him the cornerstone of their new midfield. I'd say it's more likely to be LDU, McKercher and Wardlaw with Sheezel the support.

I have a feeling this role will be given to McKercher while Sheezel transitions to roles higher up the ground. That seagull role is a great way to transition high-possesion, high DE% midfielders into the league, and while they aren't in need of wins getting as many of their young mids games, touches, and experience in defensive structures will pay dividends when they move into the midfield. Would have loved to give Frenchy that role, but our backline is far more set up than Norths and it wouldn't have helped anyone to have to cover another small forward.

 

[Brant]

LDU gun, Thomas Gun, Sheezel Gun
Mckercher and Wardlaw very likely to be guns. Simpkin B grade. Phillips unknown. That’s a decent midfield. Could easily be the top midfield in a few years.

You read that list & think 'gun midfielders'.

Finn reads that list & thinks 'smorgasbord'!

 

[The Chad and I]

Ned Long was always a bit too much of a lumbering type to be a preferred mid option.
He's a max C+ mid you have in the absence of someone better.
Maybe he matures and into his mid 20s he gets a few good years out of himself at senior level, if a club gives him another chance.