Ben Long. Furious

[Yorkeys]

So if Long and Gresh were contesting a loose ball starting together 10m from the pill:
1 Who would get posession, and 2
Where would the ball go.
For extra nominate by foot or hand disposal.

[supersaints2]

There were worse players, at least he has acted hotvho every time.

[bangaulegend]

ahh think thats what I said - someone above mentioned they would trade Steele before Gresham

I was agreeing with you . I think you have misunderstood my post

[shanegrambeau]

I would say the problem is again - Brad f Hill!

It’s all his fault, again.

The travesty of justice.

Poor poor Ben Long

Never given a chance

And evil wretched spoiled Brad Hill.

I blame Brad Hill.

It’s the reason I am going bald too.

Brad Bloodcy Hill.

Sorry ‘Longy’!

[sunsaint]

ahh think thats what I said - someone above mentioned they would trade Steele before Gresham

I was agreeing with you . I think you have misunderstood my post

ahhh true - I needed a thumbs up smilie

[B.M]

How long did Ben play for today?

5 possessions?!

Just can’t find the footy?!

[skeptic]

How long did Ben play for today?

5 possessions?!

Just can’t find the footy?!

That’s the problem with him for sure.

At the same time, 7 tackles, hurt at least one opponent and set up a goal with another, kicked an important goal too. IMO more important to the team then generally credited but... until he starts getting closer to 12-15 touches consistently... will remain in and out.

[Teflon]

How long did Ben play for today?

5 possessions?!

Just can’t find the footy?!

Ben Long 20 pressure acts, second in the side (behind Steele on 21
Could he get more possessions? Yep but like last week …..brings others into the game like Butler and Higgins through his pressure
I’d like to see him have a spell on ball occasionally…
Tough racking up 30 as a small defensive forward

[Annoyedsaint]

Five possessions lol

It’s not even a duscussion.
Wouldn’t get a game in Geelong’s reserves with 5 possessions.

He’s 24 years old.
Seriously, how much more do you wait??
He’s in delisted territory given he cannot find the ball and doesn’t kick any goals

[bangaulegend]

Not his best game for sure but his pressure & goal in a tight contest were handy IMO

[B.M]

Doesn’t matter what your role is or what else you do

5 touches in a game of footy is poor

Why can’t he find the ball?


Eg, he played in Billings role

Last week I think Billings had 21 - that 16 more involvements

If Billings got 5 touches in a game we’d be calling for his head

[chook23]

Doesn’t matter what your role is or what else you do

5 touches in a game of footy is poor

Why can’t he find the ball?


Eg, he played in Billings role

Last week I think Billings had 21 - that 16 more involvements

If Billings got 5 touches in a game we’d be calling for his head

Doesn’t matter what your role is or what else you do

5 touches in a game of footy is poor

Why can’t he find the ball?


Eg, he played in Billings role

Last week I think Billings had 21 - that 16 more involvements

If Billings got 5 touches in a game we’d be calling for his head

Spot on

[Vortex]

Crickey can't believe some are happy with Long's game.

He's Kent all over, a reasonable pressure player in very small patches but fades in and out and just can't be consistent with whatever he does. Is a liability and won't be remaining on the journey to finding a full complement of top 4 players.

[Templar]

Five possessions lol

It’s not even a duscussion.
Wouldn’t get a game in Geelong’s reserves with 5 possessions.

He’s 24 years old.
Seriously, how much more do you wait??
He’s in delisted territory given he cannot find the ball and doesn’t kick any goals

So look at stats and drop Long and Battle? Bring in two player from the magoos that had higher numbers under the D column. Got it.

[saynta]

Five possessions lol

It’s not even a duscussion.
Wouldn’t get a game in Geelong’s reserves with 5 possessions.

He’s 24 years old.
Seriously, how much more do you wait??
He’s in delisted territory given he cannot find the ball and doesn’t kick any goals

Really? You didn't watch the game then?

[Templar]

...reasonable pressure player in very small patches...

3rd in the Saints tackle count after coming on at quarter time.
Had west coast players ducking for cover and all totally legal.
Nailed a shot on goal from distance.

And last week Long's intensity as emergency sub with short amount of game time was in stark contrast to the rest of the team.

But the haters want him dropped for someone with more elegance and finess. Maybe he should go to Geelong where most of them play like with that level
of damaging intensity.

We can trade him for a sleek looking outside posession gatherer.

[Vortex]

...reasonable pressure player in very small patches...

3rd in the Saints tackle count after coming on at quarter time.
Had west coast players ducking for cover and all totally legal.
Nailed a shot on goal from distance.

And last week Long's intensity as emergency sub with short amount of game time was in stark contrast to the rest of the team.

But the haters want him dropped for someone with more elegance and finess. Maybe he should go to Geelong where most of them play like with that level
of damaging intensity.

We can trade him for a sleek looking outside posession gatherer.

Might as well argue Kent should be playing in the best 22.
Long wouldn't get a game anywhere else.

[Templar]

No comparison.

[The_Dud]

As others have said, almost leading the team in pressure acts and tackles in only 3 quarters of a game.

Ranked higher than Gresh, Sharman and Battle, and just behind Clark, which just illustrates the work he does without the ball.

[Templar]

Long was pretty ordinary before he was dropped. But so have been 90% of the squad hence our collective coniptions.

Last two weeks has brought the relentless intensity we have clearly been lacking.

Gives me the shytes when a player comes to play, turns a corner, does the team thing without hesitation, has a good game and then gets panned. Gives me the shytes no end.

Can I suggest that people hold the disdain and disparagment until he has a bad game? Would that be fair?

Kudos when it is due and stoked Ben is showing good form. You go bloke.

[loris]

Why don’t players kick to Long, when he’s got into clear space on half forward? Members ignored him twice yesterday and kicked long to a pack contest, and ball rebounded once & got locked in the other time for ball up & Eagles eventually cleared. Then Sinclair, who usually shows good periphery vision, ignored Long on his own, waving arms for all to see, & bombed it long for no effect.
I’ve noticed on TV in games that Long has played, he’s often making position in the open & overlooked. Why? Is this instructions not to go through Long, he’s only there to drag a rebounding defender out of the game?
Being at game live it’s obvious Long is ignored too much. Maybe he’s ignoring coach’s instructions and breaking/leading to wrong areas for the game plan? He’d get a lot more possessions if players used him when he’s made position & free.

[skeptic]

The comparison btw Long and Kent is a good one for all the wrong reasons.

Long is the reason why players like Kent and Lonie should never have played as much as they did… all the BS about pressuring, guarding space, doing roles… Long is the epitome of actually doing that stuff in a measurable way.

He consistently harasses, tackles, chases and creates… 7 tackles yesterday. 7. Kicked one goal and created more. Only 5 touches, seems like it should have been more.

The flip side is of course… until he’s able to get more of the ball, he’ll remain on the periphery of the top 22

[saynta]

Why don’t players kick to Long, when he’s got into clear space on half forward? Members ignored him twice yesterday and kicked long to a pack contest, and ball rebounded once & got locked in the other time for ball up & Eagles eventually cleared. Then Sinclair, who usually shows good periphery vision, ignored Long on his own, waving arms for all to see, & bombed it long for no effect.
I’ve noticed on TV in games that Long has played, he’s often making position in the open & overlooked. Why? Is this instructions not to go through Long, he’s only there to drag a rebounding defender out of the game?
Being at game live it’s obvious Long is ignored too much. Maybe he’s ignoring coach’s instructions and breaking/leading to wrong areas for the game plan? He’d get a lot more possessions if players used him when he’s made position & free.

I've wondered the same thing. It's so f****** obvious it's bordering on being disgraceful. Happens all the time and must be shattering to Ben.

[loris]

Why don’t players kick to Long, when he’s got into clear space on half forward? Members ignored him twice yesterday and kicked long to a pack contest, and ball rebounded once & got locked in the other time for ball up & Eagles eventually cleared. Then Sinclair, who usually shows good periphery vision, ignored Long on his own, waving arms for all to see, & bombed it long for no effect.
I’ve noticed on TV in games that Long has played, he’s often making position in the open & overlooked. Why? Is this instructions not to go through Long, he’s only there to drag a rebounding defender out of the game?
Being at game live it’s obvious Long is ignored too much. Maybe he’s ignoring coach’s instructions and breaking/leading to wrong areas for the game plan? He’d get a lot more possessions if players used him when he’s made position & free.

I've wondered the same thing. It's so f****** obvious it's bordering on being disgraceful. Happens all the time and must be shattering to Ben.

It’s hard to pickup if you only see games on TV. I’ve occasionally glimpsed him fee & calling for ball. Because the TV doesn’t always pick up what’s in front of him etc. so I assume he’s not in the best position.
However at the match yesterday, it stood out like the proverbial dog’s balls So I assume it’s part of the structure & game plan. Dumb, dumb, dumb to ignore a player in the clear who can approach goal from where the defenders ain’t (as Jack Dyer would say). And supporters go on about Long not getting enough of the ball! Don’t they watch the game in totality or only watch where the ball is being kicked, not what’s opening up on the ground?
At least he’s not Brad Hill calling for the ball when he hasn’t got a clear pathway through opposition players, so has to run around in circles & not get an effective kick away or worse still turn it over.

[saynta]

The one with Members was the worst. I said to my partner , he better kick this and of course he missed.