Tara Murray
Former Northern Knight Ben Long will make his Collingwood debut on Friday night against Essendon.
The midfielder has only been on Collingwood’s AFL list for 35 days after being selected with pick 19 in the mid-season draft after playing six games in the Victorian Football League for the Magpies.
Long previously played for Hawthorn where he made his AFL debut against the Western Bulldogs in round 23, 2022.
He went on to play a further four games for the Hawks in 2023 before being delisted.
In the VFL in 2024 Long has played a total of seven games, averaging 22.1 disposals and nine tackles including a whooping 17 tackles in round one against Sandringham.
Long played junior football for Fitzroy in the Yarra Junior Football League and in NAB League for the Northern Knights prior to being drafted by Hawthorn with pick five in the 2022 rookie draft.
Speaking at a press conference after being picked up, Long said he was pumped to get another crack and was excited by the opportunity.
“I’m really excited by another chance,” he said. “Couldn’t have gone to a better club.
“Obviously being part of the VFL program, I think it makes it an easier transition.”
Long said the goal was always to get back into the AFL system. He said there were no guarantees when he moved to the Magpies that a senior opportunity would be on the horizon.
“They said they really value the connection between their VFL program and AFL program,” he said.
“They said there may be chances in terms of training and stuff, it turned out really well.”
Long said being able to train with the AFL program had helped him keep a gauge on the intensity and skill level at AFL, while helping his VFL form.
He said being out of the AFL system had taught him a lot.
“The biggest thing, [is] outside of footy how many other things you can do and not that footy isn’t important, it’s my number one goal at the moment,” he said.
“Having that balance in terms of other things going on in life, study and work, it keeps footy being fun.”
