Long

[Otiman]

Happy that Ben is making a career for himself after being on the ropes.

Having Higgins, Butler and Gresham on the list stopped him from playing his most effective position and we tried to turn him into a half back.

[The Fireman]

Happy that Ben is making a career for himself after being on the ropes.

Having Higgins, Butler and Gresham on the list stopped him from playing his most effective position and we tried to turn him into a half back.

Never ever saw him being on the ropes always seen as a bloody good footballer

[B.M]

If he was a bloody good footballer

He would have done better

[magnifisaint]

I think he is an average AFL player.

[Scollop]

I think he is an average AFL player.

There's millions of teenagers and young adults that would love to be an 'average' AFL player.

You make it sound like it's a negative to be average.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-20 ... b89cd2480f

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1075799/202 ... d-for-2023

[Nick DalSanto Claus]

He was never developed properly. Thrown around the field in almost every position. He never settled with us.

He seems to have found his role with the Suns. He is the quintessential GOP, but he's got some skill and is hard at it. We could use some of that in this current saints' side.

Good on him for getting the security of a 4 year deal and now enjoying his footy.

[saynta]

I see that the doggies have dropped Coffield, but Bytel has kept his place in the side with the Filth.

[Scollop]

2017 darft below. We took Coffield at 8. Naughton went at 9.

A fair few All Australians from the list below. Just goes to show that the recruiters who do their homework and are competent, don’t need top 10 draft picks to find quality. I really hated the fact that for the best part of the last decade we usually went with the popular opinions generated in the media.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_AFL_draft

1 9 Aaron Naughton Western Bulldogs Peel Thunder WAFL
1 10 Lochie O'Brien Carlton Bendigo Pioneers TAC Cup Traded from Adelaide; received from Melbourne
1 11 Aiden Bonar Greater Western Sydney Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Traded from Essendon
1 12 Darcy Fogarty Adelaide Glenelg SANFL Traded from Brisbane Lions; received from Port Adelaide
1 13 Jarrod Brander West Coast Bendigo Pioneers TAC Cup
1 14 Matthew Ling Sydney Geelong Falcons TAC Cup
1 15 Zac Bailey Brisbane Lions Norwood SANFL Traded from Rich; received from Geel, Carl, GWS
1 16 Ed Richards Western Bulldogs Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Traded from Carlton; received from Adelaide
1 17 Jack Higgins Richmond Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup
1 18 Brandon Starcevich Brisbane Lions East Perth WAFL Free agency compensation pick (Rockliff)
1 19 Wil Powell Gold Coast Claremont WAFL Traded from Geelong; free agency compensation pick (Motlop)
2 20 Callum Coleman-Jones Richmond Sturt SANFL Traded from Brisbane Lions
2 21 Oscar Allen West Coast West Perth WAFL Traded from Gold Coast
2 22 Lachie Fogarty Geelong Western Jets TAC Cup Traded from Carlton
2 23 Will Walker North Melbourne Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup
2 24 Tim Kelly Geelong South Fremantle WAFL Traded from Gold Coast; received from Fremantle
2 25 Noah Balta Richmond Calder Cannons TAC Cup Traded from Bris; received from W.B - Ess - GWS - Coll
2 26 Liam Ryan West Coast Subiaco WAFL Traded from Gold Coast; received from Hawthorn
2 27 Brent Daniels Greater Western Sydney Bendigo Pioneers TAC Cup Traded from St Kilda
2 28 Sam Taylor Greater Western Sydney Swan Districts WAFL Traded from Carlton; received from Western Bulldogs
2 29 Charlie Spargo Melbourne Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup
2 30 Tom De Koning Carlton Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Traded from Western Bulldogs; received from Essendon
2 31 Bayley Fritsch Melbourne Casey VFL Traded from Port Adelaide

[The Fireman]

If he was a bloody good footballer

He would have done better

better than what ?

[B.M]

Than he did

[WellardSaint]

Average disposals
2023 11.40
No goals
This yr 10.40
23 goals...4 vs Injectors, 3 vs WCE

[Yorkeys]

GC needed a hard nut. Ben is a hard nut. Goals are a bonus, they come from his ability to work hard and smarts about positioning. A lot of fwds have the latter qualities. But most are not as hard and ruthless as Ben. Perceptive by Dew. There was no need for us to pay more.

[The Fireman]

Than he did

than he is ?

[samuraisaint]

I see that the doggies have dropped Coffield, but Bytel has kept his place in the side with the Filth.

No choice at this stage of the season. Collingwood don't have many players left.

[SaintWiki]

I am still not convinced that draft numbers is everything. Surely there is a lot to be said about how they fit into the squad and how the club develops their skills and confidence and promotes their natual strenghs

[samuraisaint]

Loved him as a player. One of my faves.

Couldn't control him - he was always going to leave. Next!

[magnifisaint]

Is he a good ordinary footballer?

[Templar]

Gresham and Billings on the other hand...

[B.M]

Have both had better careers than Long

[Yorkeys]

Have both had better careers than Long

Time will tell.
On current form.......

[B.M]

You don’t measure a career on current form.

Long is a handy 18-24 player on a list. Gresham and Billings at their best have both finished top 10 in best and Fairest awards multiple times

Right now
Long has 5 possessions in a half vs Melb and Billings has 10

[magnifisaint]

I'm glad Gresham has left. His disposal is not great plus he doesn't get it enough.

[saynta]

You don’t measure a career on current form.

Long is a handy 18-24 player on a list. Gresham and Billings at their best have both finished top 10 in best and Fairest awards multiple times

Right now
Long has 5 possessions in a half vs Melb and Billings has 10

Gresham 11 possessions ...Billings 21 possessions.

And....wait for it....Long 5 possessions.

I will go along with the Saints list managers. Not one of them is a great loss and you can lump Coffield in with those list cloggers.

[B.M]

It’s funny

All three are general forwards Ben, Jade and Jack B

Their stats line up very similar

Ben - 10 disposals and 1.4 goals per game
Jade - 14 per game 0.9 goals per game
Jack B - 15.5 and 0.2 per game

All similar numbers in SC and Ratings points

All 3 were our first selection in the ND in their year

2013 pick 3 Billings
2015 pick 15 Gresham
2016 pick 25 Long
2017 pick 8 Coffield

All gone!!!! For very little

Also 2014 picks
McCartin to Swans then retired
Hugh Goddard delisted
McKenzie delisted
Lonie Delisted

2012 picks
Nathan Wright
Spencer White
Delisted

[saynta]

It’s funny

All three are general forwards Ben, Jade and Jack B

Their stats line up very similar

Ben - 10 disposals and 1.4 goals per game
Jade - 14 per game 0.9 goals per game
Jack B - 15.5 and 0.2 per game

All similar numbers in SC and Ratings points

All 3 were our first selection in the ND in their year

2013 pick 3 Billings
2015 pick 15 Gresham
2016 pick 25 Long
2017 pick 8 Coffield

All gone!!!! For very little

Also 2014 picks
McCartin to Swans then retired
Hugh Goddard delisted
McKenzie delisted
Lonie Delisted

2012 picks
Nathan Wright
Spencer White
Delisted

Bit sad reading that.