Ben Long Midfield

[saint6709]

He’s been tried forward and back - maybe he could have a break out season through the middle?

[bigcarl]

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.

[Saints58]

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.

[Vortex]

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.

[Scollop]

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.

[Sainternist]

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.

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.

[skeptic]

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.

I tend to agree.

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]

Long is a definite keeper

[vacuous space]

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.

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.

[Sainternist]

Long is a definite keeper

Sadly, rumours suggest he doesn’t want to stay

[Scollop]

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

[Gershwin]

Happy to see him go and get something for him (but not expecting much).

[Scollop]

Happy to see him go and get something for him (but not expecting much).

Great. That's exactly how you become perennial losers as a club. Recruit a guy with talent and then lose him for 'not much'.

[Banger9798]

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

[desertsaint]

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.

[The Fireman]

if the club loses Long they will remain a basket case

[Vortex]

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 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.

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.

[saynta]

Michael Tuck says hello.

[sks023]

My one and only post for the season
If They trade LONG I'm done with this Club

[older saint]

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.

[repta]

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.

[Yorkeys]

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]

Those on here underselling long are just s*** stirring
Can’t be any another reason

[Scollop]

Those on here underselling long are just s*** stirring
Can’t be any another reason

You’re underestimating the amount of dumb people there are in this world

[The Fireman]

Those on here underselling long are just s*** stirring
Can’t be any another reason

You’re underestimating the amount of dumb people there are in this world

There is no doubt some on here overate their own intelligence