AFL 2025: Collingwood’s Ned Long details his impressive AFL revival

It wasn’t long ago Ned Long was outside the AFL system – now he’s playing a key role in the midfield of a team favoured to win the premiership.

Ned Long is still trying to soak his rollercoaster journey in.

The Collingwood youngster has gone from swallowing the “bitter pill” of AFL axing to playing a key part in the star-studded midfield favoured to win the premiership.

Long was delisted by Hawthorn at the end of 2023 and turned to the Magpies’ VFL program in search of an AFL lifeline.

Collingwood wasted little time giving Long another shot at the top level and he’s since repaid the faith with a hand in the club’s revived midfield.

“I am just trying to soak as much in as I can,” Long said after his side’s Anzac Day win.

Ned Long celebrates a goal for the ladder-leading Collingwood. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“I am proud, reflecting on the journey – there is a long way to go in both my individual journey and for the team this season.

“I am proud of where we’ve come and where I’ve come, but I’m definitely looking forward to the more work we have to do.

“I went back, worked hard and figured out what I had to get better at, what my strengths were (after being delisted).

“I just came back and worked really hard go get back and in this position I am now.

“It’s not too much about what your weaknesses are at Collingwood, it’s really focused on your strengths, your weapons and what you can bring to the table.”

The modest Long has formed an unlikely partnership with Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos.

The numbers suggest when Long plays, Daicos has an even greater impact than normal.

But the 22-year-old laughs off the idea he could be helping a player the ilk of Daicos

“I don’t think there’s much of a correlation there, I don’t know how much I am helping him,” Long said.

“He’s an amazing player who does it himself, I just try and do whatever I can. Obviously, Steele (Sidebottom) had an amazing day today, Pendles (Scott Pendlebury) is great every week.

“I guess, I have to just complement the other mids. I am more of a contested player, so I bring my strengths to the table: pressure, tackling, win my own ball and get it to our great ball users.”

Long (right) and Collingwood star Nick Daicos have formed an unlikely partnership. Picture: Michael Klein

Long is pinching himself every centre bounce when he lines up alongside Daicos as well as Collingwood champions Sidebottom and Pendlebury.

He can’t put his finger on who is having the greatest influence on his budding career, saying “I am surrounded by unbelievable players”.

“There’s so many things week-in-week-out. I am learning from the experience we have in there,” he said.

“I am surrounded by unbelievable players in the midfield.

“Pendles, Steele, Nick, Darcy Cameron is in unbelievable form, then I have great coaches really setting me up – Matthew Boyd, Fly (Craig McRae), Hayden Skipworth – the list just goes on.”