Ben Long?

[axcellence]

Haven’t heard much about him. Was drafted as a late bloomer. 20 years old, but haven’t heard much about him in dispatches.

Any updates around how he is going? Is he a Boekherst Mk 2, or the Winmar Saints are looking for...

[loris]

Haven’t heard much about him. Was drafted as a late bloomer. 20 years old, but haven’t heard much about him in dispatches.

Any updates around how he is going? Is he a Boekherst Mk 2, or the Winmar Saints are looking for...

Go to official Saints site - they put an article up on him yesterday..........

[saynta]

Haven’t heard much about him. Was drafted as a late bloomer. 20 years old, but haven’t heard much about him in dispatches.

Any updates around how he is going? Is he a Boekherst Mk 2, or the Winmar Saints are looking for...

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2018-01-1 ... y-for-more

Ben Long has had a taste and wants more.

[magnifisaint]

Really positive

[Drake Huggins]

One of the possible bolters this year. Showed glimpses of talent but looked physically cooked a lot of the time. I wonder if that had anything to do with him not having a break after Footscray's VFL premiership and heading straight to Darwin to play in our off season? With a decent rest between seasons and a full preseason based on a completely fresh start, he may get to show his true ability. Here's hoping. He's ideally suited to that small, defensive forward role that is so much in vogue now.

[Wombat15]

From what someone posted a while back is that he came in underdone and overwhelmed. Mind you i am still of the mindset richo isnt very good at developing players in their first 20 odd games. He confines them to the pockets and the bench and doesn't allow them to show off their talent yet expects them to be ready at a moments notice. Josh Battle is a prime example. Im not saying give him the keys to the Ferrari but playing him up the ground in his natural role would've been better than having him sit in the 50 the whole game. Jack Sinclair copped the same treatment. Ben Long the same. the kid likes to run so put him on a flank or a wing.

[Gershwin]

From what someone posted a while back is that he came in underdone and overwhelmed. Mind you i am still of the mindset richo isnt very good at developing players in their first 20 odd games. He confines them to the pockets and the bench and doesn't allow them to show off their talent yet expects them to be ready at a moments notice. Josh Battle is a prime example. Im not saying give him the keys to the Ferrari but playing him up the ground in his natural role would've been better than having him sit in the 50 the whole game. Jack Sinclair copped the same treatment. Ben Long the same. the kid likes to run so put him on a flank or a wing.

And now Sinclair is blossoming. Good coaching.

[saintspremiers]

I don’t think he’ll make it

[SaintPav]

We need a bolter or two.

[DJ Higgins]

way too early to judge, Most articles now are just fluff pieces saying everyone is back and wanting to play etc. I know nothing of his off season and conditioning and how he is going now. As long as there are no dwarf lighting stories I will be happy

[Con Gorozidis]

I don't think he is Winmar or Boekhurst.

One thing about Ben Long, he is as tough as nails. So courage is not in question. Absolute hard nut.

Looked like maybe he was a bit unfit and seemed caught out by the speed of the game last season. Knock on him was he didn't get enough ball.
At this point in time I am just thinking it was a fitness issue.
So let's wait and see.

[parkeysainter]

He has played half a dozen games and only been on AFL list 1 season.

Lets give him a break and time to develop. He has tons of potential and doesn't look out of depth already.

[mad saint guy]

Hope I'm wrong but I haven't seen much to suggest he's going to make it. Good pressure and toughness but struggles to get the ball, doesn't kick a lot of goals and doesn't have outstanding skills or pace. Really doesn't seem to have done much except for a good 30-40 mins of footy in the VFL prelim.

[8856brother]

The concern with Ben is that whilst he showed little at AFL level, you would hope when he went back to the VFL he would show at least a bit more. Unfortunately last year he showed very little at VFL level as well.

Big year for him I believe. We have a talented list and competition for spots will be immense. Hope he has what it takes.

[saynta]

He has played half a dozen games and only been on AFL list 1 season.

Lets give him a break and time to develop. He has tons of potential and doesn't look out of depth already.

Good fair comments

[saint64]

did some nice things in the first Richmond game

[BadRossco]

Will probably develop into a poor man's Lonie, another case of inept recruiting

[the dome]

I was glad to hear that Ben Long has a good connection with Ben McGlynn
“He keeps a real eye on me and finds ways to help me get better in every aspect of my game, which is really good.” (from the St.K website).
Sounds like Ben Long is going fine @ the moment, This preseason sounds like a definite step up in intensity compared to last year. Longie sounds enthusiastic & might be feeling the improvement in himself. That's great if the case. Getting through the preseason with some clear growth under the belt is still the main game @ the moment I would have thought.
1 step @ a time.

I'm keen to see Ben move along in leaps & bounds but just ticking the boxes as they present is quietly exciting enough @ the moment.
G O O D L U C K B E N,

Go Saints

[magnifisaint]

Will probably develop into a poor man's Lonie, another case of inept recruiting

Funniest thing I've read

[fugazi]

Will probably develop into a poor man's Lonie, another case of inept recruiting

Surely not possible. That would make him a bankrupt man's Adam Schneider

[Con Gorozidis]

Will probably develop into a poor man's Lonie, another case of inept recruiting

Except Ben is a mad dog and tough.

Main question mark what position he plays?
May just lack that yard of pace that the small tackling machine needs these days.

I just can't see Lonie making it. Too slow for his size and too easily brushed off.

[elizabethr]

Lonie is too small for his size...a veritable Hobbit.

[saynta]

Will probably develop into a poor man's Lonie, another case of inept recruiting

Except Ben is a mad dog and tough.

Main question mark what position he plays?
May just lack that yard of pace that the small tackling machine needs these days.

I just can't see Lonie making. Too slow for his size and too easily brushed off.

What? He doesn't fit his own body?

[DJ Higgins]

Will probably develop into a poor man's Lonie, another case of inept recruiting

Firstly Lonie is a poor man's Sinclair so Long is a poor mans poor man which is pretty harsh.
Secondly what do you base that comment on. Long is a tackling machine at lower levels and will continue that once his body allows it at AFL level.

[minneapolis]

Will probably develop into a poor man's Lonie, another case of inept recruiting

Can I take that to the bank?