The Age says Clarko would like Ben Long at Norf

[Otiman]

3rd rounder for Long should be the going rate. Package with Hill for an early second round. First pick of day 2 would be a good get.

[Templar]

If we lose Long how does that effect our softness/hardness quotient?

What current players can we rely on as enforcers?

How many other players do we have that we can rely on doing the one percent 100% of the time?

How many do we need?

8?
12?
18?
22?

Ok, where do we start, McKenzie..

[The Fireman]

To me long is a must keep

Can’t believe everyone can’t see that.

[sunsaint]

clarkson needs a whole new team - so not sure why a few people are getting all hot under the collar if a few of ours walk
He is looking for value first that he can mould
Put a package together and trade for early picks

[desertsaint]

Much rather Long than a 3rd rounder. And given our strikerate i'd prefer him over a 2nd rounder. So it's a keep him from me.

[The Fireman]

clarkson needs a whole new team - so not sure why a few people are getting all hot under the collar if a few of ours walk
He is looking for value first that he can mould
Put a package together and trade for early picks

I really couldn’t give a s*** what clarko wants or needs and I will definitely get hot under the collar if any of our talent walks

[sunsaint]

so you dont think we are treading water until some of our younger kids come good
you must keep introducing new young talent
In recent past we havent - instead going for older trades

[sunsaint]

"get hot under the collar"

the fireman will get hot underneath the collar
thats funny -

[Killa]

IIRC, Clarkson flew to the USA to try to convince Carlisle to go to Hawthorn not St Kilda

Rattan knows Clarkson well, obviously

Not all can stand Clarkson’s Langer like approach

With Long, Rattan was the catalyst behind St Kilda embracing Long’s culture and cultural home a couple of years back, Long acting as host to the List

[Life Long Saint]

you must keep introducing new young talent
In recent past we havent - instead going for older trades

We can do both with the right trades. Keep early picks and bring in talent to fill immediate needs.

[samuraisaint]

No way Jose.
Hill and Long go and we are back to winning four or five games a year.

[Laurie]

Long one of the hardnuts in our team surely would not be traded.
There are others i would definately trade before Long without any hesitation is Ratten and co. Wanting a team of marshmallows.
BOOM BOOM

[samuraisaint]

Long one of the hardnuts in our team surely would not be traded.
There are others i would definately trade before Long without any hesitation is Ratten and co. Wanting a team of marshmallows.
BOOM BOOM

I'm with you Laurie - Longy stays! Hilly too!

[chook23]

Think a few over rate Long

Had a good last game


Even including that last game ave. 11.8 possessions per game

[Banger9798]

Think a few over rate Long

Had a good last game


Even including that last game ave. 11.8 possessions per game

How many times was he medi sub though?

[chook23]

Think a few over rate Long

Had a good last game


Even including that last game ave. 11.8 possessions per game

How many times was he medi sub though?

Considered that.............i am not exactly sure......even so for his size and type not great possession winner or goalkicker when fwd

[Impatient Sainter]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but IMO Long is exactly the type of player we desperately need to hang on to. His hard edge and competitiveness is something we are very short on. He just needs to be settled in one position to get the best out of him and that spot should be as a HBF. Ratten's insistence on playing 'tinker bell' Hill across the half back line has been to the detriment of the team and other players.

I like others would have liked to also see Sinclair moved into the middle and reset our back half with Long, Coffield, Paton & Clark.

Any idea of bringing Mitchell to the club is that of a desparate coaching group, planning to save their skins, not for the long term benefit of the clubs future.

[Laurie]

Totally agree impatient sainter Mitchell is not what we need yes he does get possessions but also a great butcher of the ball.
BOOM BOOM

[SaintPav]

Mitchell?!

OMG

[1971]

If Mitchell comes my concerns will be gone. I will have moved on to utter despair. Also, please keep Long.

[mad saint guy]

Long is a butcher by foot still. He's a liablity at times on the ground with stupid mistakes.

I don't think his skills are too bad, it's his inability to stay involved in the game that prevents him from being a best 22 player. He looked like he had finally turned a corner early 2020 but then dropped off again and went back to his usual inconsistent/low production standard which has been the norm for 6 years. I don't see him suddenly turning things around off the back of one excellent game.

[footynut]

So if they come to us, we simply say, sure we'll trade you both and you can give us pick 1. We are in the box seat and can ask what we want for Hill. Unfortunately Long could leave via pre-season draft for nothing.

[axcellence]

Anyone remember Guerra?

Got delisted by Grant Thomas as a small but tough HF.

Clark recruited him as a premiership winning half back.

Where do I see the similarities? Was it a case of playing Guerra at his best position or st kilda turfing him out with no good reason.

[wally]

They took Guerra because he was a great kick.Clarkson also recruited Dew on the other HBF his theory was elite long kicks to beat the flood and get the forwards (buddy) in open space.

[WellardSaint]

Long shows glimpses, not consistent.
If they try him in the midfield during pre-season under Lenny's tutelage, the coaches might decide to keep him there- if the experiment works.
He could alternate wirh Crouch at centre bounces.
We could try him on a wing, his pressure and hardness might help us get the ball from backline to the forward line?