Ben Long Midfield
Moderators: Saintsational Administrators, Saintsational Moderators
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 18579
- Joined: Thu 11 Mar 2004 1:36am
- Has thanked: 1905 times
- Been thanked: 841 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
He looked pretty good at half back. Best game I’ve seen from him by far. Some brilliant intercept marking.
Then again, he’s up against a few others for that spot including Sinclair, Clark, Coffield, Webster, Highmore, Paton and probably a few others.
Midfield, he wouldn’t be able to fly for those marks as often. Also, before yesterday he’s never been a prolific ball-winner, which would count against him.
Then again, he’s up against a few others for that spot including Sinclair, Clark, Coffield, Webster, Highmore, Paton and probably a few others.
Midfield, he wouldn’t be able to fly for those marks as often. Also, before yesterday he’s never been a prolific ball-winner, which would count against him.
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Tue 13 Oct 2020 9:25pm
- Has thanked: 502 times
- Been thanked: 110 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
The club wonts to trade him that's why no contract, and would be pleased with his form makes him worth more.
I really hope we keep him he is hard at it and always give a contest have many players like that trade jones if anyone.
I really hope we keep him he is hard at it and always give a contest have many players like that trade jones if anyone.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 6415
- Joined: Fri 18 Sep 2020 6:51am
- Has thanked: 854 times
- Been thanked: 1012 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Can barely see him playing for for club let alone playing I our midfield. Ben Long is on the list to be traded would be my guess. At best his last game for the club might have pumped up his trade value.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 11554
- Joined: Sun 11 Sep 2011 2:26pm
- Has thanked: 3523 times
- Been thanked: 2465 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
He’ll perform consistently like he did in this last game for us…
At another club
Do you know why?
Probably because they’ll have a better environment for excellence and most importantly I think he’ll be embraced and valued better than he was at our club.
I don’t think he’ll be a mid. Ben had a good consistent year in 2020 as a half back flanker. He can play wing but if he stays I’d prefer Wood and DMac on the wings. Ben plays best as a defender in a role similar to Dan Rioli.
At another club
Do you know why?
Probably because they’ll have a better environment for excellence and most importantly I think he’ll be embraced and valued better than he was at our club.
I don’t think he’ll be a mid. Ben had a good consistent year in 2020 as a half back flanker. He can play wing but if he stays I’d prefer Wood and DMac on the wings. Ben plays best as a defender in a role similar to Dan Rioli.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 11322
- Joined: Thu 11 Mar 2004 12:57am
- Location: South of Heaven
- Has thanked: 1312 times
- Been thanked: 447 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Yeah, there’s now a rumour going he wants to go to Essendon. Bytel, too.
I, for one, am preparing for some BIG changes to our list this off-season.
Curb your enthusiasm - you’re a St.Kilda supporter!!
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/LkJcQq3.jpg?2)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/LkJcQq3.jpg?2)
- skeptic
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 16888
- Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2004 7:10pm
- Has thanked: 3580 times
- Been thanked: 2848 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
I tend to agree.Scollop wrote: ↑Tue 23 Aug 2022 6:24pm He’ll perform consistently like he did in this last game for us…
At another club
Do you know why?
Probably because they’ll have a better environment for excellence and most importantly I think he’ll be embraced and valued better than he was at our club.
I don’t think he’ll be a mid. Ben had a good consistent year in 2020 as a half back flanker. He can play wing but if he stays I’d prefer Wood and DMac on the wings. Ben plays best as a defender in a role similar to Dan Rioli.
In my opinion… the obvious mistake this year was keeping Sinclair on a HBF when we had a plethora of players that could cover that position (Long, Hill, Clark, Highmore, NWM, Connolly, and Coops)… instead of sticking him in the middle where we needed him.
Geeez I’d hate to lose Long.
I’m tired of this mentality that if play x isn’t immediately a super star then they’re hopeless, not worth persevering with and we should only play mediocre experienced.
I get that across 03-04, most young players just slotted right into out top 22… but different era ppl.
- The Fireman
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 13245
- Joined: Mon 08 Mar 2004 11:54pm
- Has thanked: 644 times
- Been thanked: 1907 times
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3465
- Joined: Fri 29 Oct 2004 1:01pm
- Has thanked: 91 times
- Been thanked: 162 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Especially given that, when we did play Sinclair in the middle he went well. I think most of us would agree that we could really use a classy midfielder more than anything else.
The games he played in the middle:
R1 - 32% of centre bounces, 25 disposals, 4 clearances, 599 metres gained and a goal
R2 - 71% of CBs, 25 disposals, 6 clearances, 437 metres gained
R3 - 51% of CBs, 24 disposals, 3 clearances, 453 metres gained
R8 - 38% of CBs, 26 disposals, 3 clearances, 610 metres gained
He got in for a few more in rounds 13-15 and then wasn't used there again.
Yeah nah pleasing positive
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 11322
- Joined: Thu 11 Mar 2004 12:57am
- Location: South of Heaven
- Has thanked: 1312 times
- Been thanked: 447 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Sadly, rumours suggest he doesn’t want to stay
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
Curb your enthusiasm - you’re a St.Kilda supporter!!
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/LkJcQq3.jpg?2)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/LkJcQq3.jpg?2)
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 11554
- Joined: Sun 11 Sep 2011 2:26pm
- Has thanked: 3523 times
- Been thanked: 2465 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Ben's aggression and his undisciplined acts obviously played a part in his diminishing acceptance as part of the first 22 picked, but the leadership and the senior coaches should have continued playing him in defense in my opinion. Especially after the season he produced in 2020. As his confidence grows he will excel. He is a beautiful kick of the footy and he still has upside
Daniel Rioli is Ben's nephew
Daniel Rioli named in the 44-man squad
Never previously All Australian
22 matches this season
Averages 20.6 disposals, 83.7 per cent disposal efficiency, 4.9 marks, 1.2 intercept marks, 2.3 tackles, 3.3 rebound 50s and 0.8 goals conceded per game.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1206 ... lian-squad
Daniel Rioli is Ben's nephew
Daniel Rioli named in the 44-man squad
Never previously All Australian
22 matches this season
Averages 20.6 disposals, 83.7 per cent disposal efficiency, 4.9 marks, 1.2 intercept marks, 2.3 tackles, 3.3 rebound 50s and 0.8 goals conceded per game.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1206 ... lian-squad
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 11554
- Joined: Sun 11 Sep 2011 2:26pm
- Has thanked: 3523 times
- Been thanked: 2465 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Great. That's exactly how you become perennial losers as a club. Recruit a guy with talent and then lose him for 'not much'.
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 2731
- Joined: Sun 25 Apr 2021 9:43pm
- Has thanked: 692 times
- Been thanked: 774 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
We should re contract Long, he has found his feet and is about to hit his straps, and we've put 5 years into him...FFS, don't let him leave
The Artist formerly known as Fugazi
- desertsaint
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 10404
- Joined: Sun 27 Apr 2008 2:02pm
- Location: out there
- Has thanked: 186 times
- Been thanked: 701 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
add him to the list of unwanted players who go on and become better players at other clubs - hickey, mccartin, newnes, acres, hind...whilst we keep 'better' players who continue to stagnate.
can't blame him if he wants to leave given he always gave more on the field than others who were given more chances - he was always one poor game away from being dropped.
would rather we trade out the likes of jones, billings, and gresham.
can't blame him if he wants to leave given he always gave more on the field than others who were given more chances - he was always one poor game away from being dropped.
would rather we trade out the likes of jones, billings, and gresham.
"The starting point of all achievement is desire. "
- The Fireman
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 13245
- Joined: Mon 08 Mar 2004 11:54pm
- Has thanked: 644 times
- Been thanked: 1907 times
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 6415
- Joined: Fri 18 Sep 2020 6:51am
- Has thanked: 854 times
- Been thanked: 1012 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
The opposite of "we've put 5 years into him" is "we've wasted 5 years on him" which goes to the heart of reviewing the list.Banger9798 wrote: ↑Wed 24 Aug 2022 7:31am We should re contract Long, he has found his feet and is about to hit his straps, and we've put 5 years into him...FFS, don't let him leave
I think we are at crossroads with many players who are squarely in the fringe category and been around the club for say 3 to 5 years and in the case of Billings 7 years.
5 years on a list and still a fringe player probably means there is no more growth left and really what have we seen from Long on a consistent basis that convinces us he is capable of becoming a finals 4 player. He's fairly average with the odd quarter of food performance...screams Kent.
The club needs to cut any player who has been on the list longer than 3 years who is a fringe player and doesn't have any growth.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 23010
- Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2004 3:53pm
- Has thanked: 8904 times
- Been thanked: 3883 times
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Wed 12 Sep 2007 5:30pm
- Has thanked: 169 times
- Been thanked: 516 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
One thing i have learned over the years here is the wide ranging thoughts about players and coaches across this community.
Pretty much name a player and can get everything from absolute champion if given the opportunity to couldn't get a kick in a stable.
Long in the 2nd half of the year showed something he didn't in 2021 and that was consistency in effort, discipline at the contest and improved skill ( which i think was due to being up the ground more) . That said he wasn't in the best 22 early in the year when we were 8-3.
There are so many rumours this time of year its hard to believe anything.
The question really is what currency does he have, Where is his best position ( to me high half forward he played the Billings role in the second half of the year) and does he want to be there.
He fits a demographic 25 years old and 79 games in 6 seasons to retain but in a top 4 side he falls between 18-25 unless we see more of what we saw Sunday which was the first time i have seen that in the 78 previous games.
Pretty much name a player and can get everything from absolute champion if given the opportunity to couldn't get a kick in a stable.
Long in the 2nd half of the year showed something he didn't in 2021 and that was consistency in effort, discipline at the contest and improved skill ( which i think was due to being up the ground more) . That said he wasn't in the best 22 early in the year when we were 8-3.
There are so many rumours this time of year its hard to believe anything.
The question really is what currency does he have, Where is his best position ( to me high half forward he played the Billings role in the second half of the year) and does he want to be there.
He fits a demographic 25 years old and 79 games in 6 seasons to retain but in a top 4 side he falls between 18-25 unless we see more of what we saw Sunday which was the first time i have seen that in the 78 previous games.
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 709
- Joined: Thu 06 Dec 2007 3:14pm
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 115 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Enforcer. Good for pitch hitting in the centre.
Every good team has someone that causes the opposition to second think. That moment of hesitation.
Difficult role to play in today's game. Long does it well.
Every good team has someone that causes the opposition to second think. That moment of hesitation.
Difficult role to play in today's game. Long does it well.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4895
- Joined: Tue 13 Jun 2017 1:16pm
- Has thanked: 1410 times
- Been thanked: 1429 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Tell you what, Ben and Marcus at centre bounces would give some of the more cocky mids from other sides pause and a cricked neck.
- The Fireman
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 13245
- Joined: Mon 08 Mar 2004 11:54pm
- Has thanked: 644 times
- Been thanked: 1907 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
Those on here underselling long are just s*** stirring
Can’t be any another reason
Can’t be any another reason
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 11554
- Joined: Sun 11 Sep 2011 2:26pm
- Has thanked: 3523 times
- Been thanked: 2465 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
You’re underestimating the amount of dumb people there are in this worldThe Fireman wrote: ↑Wed 24 Aug 2022 4:06pm Those on here underselling long are just s*** stirring
Can’t be any another reason
- The Fireman
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 13245
- Joined: Mon 08 Mar 2004 11:54pm
- Has thanked: 644 times
- Been thanked: 1907 times
Re: Ben Long Midfield
There is no doubt some on here overate their own intelligenceScollop wrote: ↑Wed 24 Aug 2022 4:09pmYou’re underestimating the amount of dumb people there are in this worldThe Fireman wrote: ↑Wed 24 Aug 2022 4:06pm Those on here underselling long are just s*** stirring
Can’t be any another reason
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)