Ben Long (footballer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Long |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Long playing for St Kilda in April 2019
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ben Long | ||
| Date of birth | 21 August 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Darwin, Northern Territory | ||
| Original team | St Mary's / NTFL / Footscray Bulldogs (VFL) / NT Thunder (NEAFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 25, 2016 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 4, 2017, St Kilda v. Collingwood, at Etihad Stadium |
||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Gold Coast | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Career highlights | |||
|
|||
Ben Long (born August 21, 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is known for his strong defensive skills and his ability to make a big impact on the field.
Ben Long's Football Journey
Growing Up and Starting Out
Ben Long was born in Darwin, Northern Territory. He comes from a family of Indigenous Australians, with connections to the Anmatjerre, Malak-Malak, and Tiwi peoples. His family is famous in Australian rules football.
Ben is part of the well-known Rioli-Long family. Many of his relatives are also famous footballers. His uncle, Michael Long, won two premierships with Essendon. His cousin, Cyril Rioli, won four premierships with Hawthorn. Other famous cousins include Daniel Rioli and Junior Rioli. His cousin Danielle Ponter is also a star in the AFL Women's league.
Ben started playing junior football for St Mary's in the NTFL. When he was 16, he received a special scholarship to attend Melbourne Grammar School. In 2016, Ben was part of the Footscray team that won the VFL premiership. This was a great achievement before he joined the AFL.
Playing in the AFL
Ben was chosen by the St Kilda Football Club in the 2016 national draft. He was their first pick and the twenty-fifth player chosen overall. He made his very first AFL appearance in 2017. This was in Round 4 against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, where St Kilda won by fourteen points.
In 2018, Ben was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award. This award celebrates the best young players in the league. He earned this nomination for his excellent game against the GWS Giants. In that match, he had fifteen disposals (kicks and handballs), made eight tackles, took four marks, and even kicked a goal.
In the final game of St Kilda's 2022 season, Ben had one of his best performances ever. On his 25th birthday, he played against the Sydney Swans. He had 27 disposals, took 17 marks, and made 13 intercepts. He also kicked a goal, showing how effective he was on the field.
After the 2022 season, Ben asked to move to a new team. He was then traded to the Gold Coast Suns on October 5, 2022, where he continues his AFL career.
