If the rumours are true and he gets a run then I’m happy for him.
Has worked hard this year and deserves a crack.
In my opinion he has the remainder of the year to earn another contract. He has some really nice AFL atributes so let’s hope he can be one of those players that plays better when in the seniors.
I’m sure he’ll play before the year is out. They’ll want to have a look at him before list cull time you would think. Personally I wouldn’t say he was very good last week, but he was better than usual.
Halfway through the second Q. He’s gone in for a one-armed tackle 3 times and been busted through 3 times. He hasn’t been near a contest. Half a dozen times other guys (team mate or opponent) have worked straight past him. Been very safe with ball use on half back but hasn’t created a lot (compared to Francis, Ridley).
8 minutes in dropped mark (BH defender much bigger) = shot on for them
9 minutes in failed to get body on in a contest = another shot to them
15 minutes in, another one arm & missed tackle
Francis yes, Ridley no. Ridley was shown up a bit when asked to play as an accountable defender and didn’t do much damage with ball in hand either. Francis on the other hand was prepared to take some risks and used the ball really well.
I caught the last 1.5 quarters live and assumed the raving over Long’s performance was largely damage done early. I went & re-watched the replay, and he didn’t do much early either.
He’s just not showing it. He’s a soft tackler, he doesn’t win contests, he doesn’t seem to intercept much, he gets outrun & outworked a lot, and doesn’t read the contest well either, to get to where the ball’s going. He’s a nice kick, that’s about all.
I’ve often wondered is Jake doing this because he really wants it?
Or is he playing footy because he is Michael Long’s son and he thinks his Dad wants him to. He often appears to lack the drive, or maybe is he just laconic? I don’t know???