EDFL: How interstate trip helped Tullamarine land Jake Long
An Essendon District Football League side has made the first splash in 2024 with another ex-AFL player joining the club. Here’s how an interstate trip played a part.
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Tullamarine’s latest addition of an ex-AFL player has come on the back of work in the last 12 months.
The Demons have confirmed the arrival of former Essendon man Jake Long, the son of Bombers’ great Michael, for the 2024 season as it looks to rebound from a below par year in 2023.
Long’s arrival marks another exciting signing in a new era under returning coach David Connell with the EDFL Division 1 club unveiling a swag of recruits before Christmas.
Connell said a trip interstate about a year ago, as part of the club’s recruiting strategy, helped to bring Long to the club.
“I was introduced to Jake through Scott McCartney, the dad of Taj who has also joined the club on a trip to Darwin, by Brandon McRedmond, the club’s major sponsor last year,” he said.
“Before Christmas an opportunity appeared where he might be willing to focus just on local footy for next year.
“After he weighed up giving VFL footy another shot, he eventually decided he wanted to play at local level which is a massive boost for us.”
While 27-year-old Long could slot onto a halfback flank, Connell said he expected his star recruit to play in the middle of the ground.
And he will add an element that the Demons have lacked during finals time according to the senior coach.
“Throughout my last seven years, we’ve always had a really strong midfield but when we’ve got to finals we’ve probably lacked a little bit of outside speed,” he said.
“Jake and Papa (Nicholas Papakalodoukas) are two recruits who are going to help us address that issue. We’ve still got some tremendous midfielders already at the club, we just wanted to build more around them.
“Jake’s got some fantastic leadership qualities as well, him along with Matt O’Dwyer and Phil Smith who have been at AFL clubs and Steve McCallum who has played over 100 VFL games are going to be great leaders for our younger guys.”
Tullamarine has been handed a bye in round 1 and will open its year against Oak Park on Saturday, April 20 away from home.
The Demons will return to pre-season training on January 22.
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