Ben Long (footballer)

Ben Long (born 21 August 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Ben Long
Long playing for St Kilda in April 2019
Personal information
Full name Ben Long
Date of birth (1997-08-21) 21 August 1997
Place of birth Darwin, Northern Territory
Original team(s) St Mary's / NTFL / Footscray Bulldogs (VFL) / NT Thunder (NEAFL) / Melbourne Grammar School (APS)
Draft No. 25, 2016 national draft
Debut Round 4, 2017, St Kilda vs. Collingwood, at Etihad Stadium
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 81 kg (179 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current club Gold Coast
Number 22
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017–2022 St Kilda 79 (31)
2023– Gold Coast 0 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2022.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Long was born in Darwin, Northern Territory[1] into a family of Indigenous Australian descent (Anmatjerre, Malak-Malak & Tiwi).[2] As a member of the Rioli-Long family he shares numerous relations with other notable footballers including dual Essendon premiership player and 1993 Norm Smith Medallist Michael Long (uncle), four-time Hawthorn premiership player and 2015 Norm Smith Medallist Cyril Rioli (cousin), three-time Richmond premiership player Daniel Rioli (nephew), 2018 West Coast premiership player Junior Rioli (cousin) and dual Adelaide AFLW premiership player Danielle Ponter (cousin).[3][4] Ben grew up playing junior football for St Mary's in the NTFL[5] and in 2014, at the age of 16, he accepted a scholarship to attend Melbourne Grammar.[6] In 2016, he played in Footscray's VFL premiership winning team.[7]

AFL career

Long was drafted by the St Kilda Football Club with their first selection and twenty-fifth overall in the 2016 national draft.[8] He made his debut in the fourteen point win against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium in round four of the 2017 season.[9] Long was nominated for the AFL Rising Star for his performance in the draw against Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium in round five of the 2018 AFL season, during which he recorded fifteen disposals, eight tackles, four marks and a goal.[10] In the final game of St Kilda's 2022 season, Long compiled a career-best performance against the Sydney Swans which included 27 disposals, 17 marks, 13 intercepts and one goal with a disposal efficiency of 96 per cent on his 25th birthday.[11]

Long subsequently requested a trade to Gold Coast, and was traded on 5 October 2022.[12]

References
  1. Ryan, Michael (23 April 2020). "Country music, family and spear-fishing: Self-isolation in the Top End with Ben Long". Saints Media. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  2. "AFL Players' Indigenous Map 2021" (PDF). AFL Players Association. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  3. Ryan, Peter (19 March 2019). "It's a Long way to the top as Ben stays a Saint until 2022". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. Sarah, Black (17 October 2018). "Rioli-Long lineage set to continue in AFLW". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  5. Morris, Grey (28 September 2016). "Ben Long confident of strong showing at AFL draft combine". NT News. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  6. "Draft Watch: Footscray's Ben Long". VFL. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  7. "Ben Long boosts draft chances with strong performance in Footscray VFL win". VFL. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  8. Bowen, Nick (25 November 2016). "Famous Long name continues at St Kilda". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  9. Cherney, Daniel (13 April 2017). "Ben Long to debut for St Kilda against Collingwood". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  10. "Long breaks Saints' Rising Star dry spell". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  11. "Long takes to the skies, electrifies, in 2022 closer". saints.com.au. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  12. @AFL_House (5 October 2022). "Trade paperwork lodged" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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