Ben’s nomination was a Long time coming

EMERGING Territory tyro Ben Long has been rewarded for his sensational game for St Kilda on Sunday by picking an AFL Rising Star nomination.

The nephew of Bombers great Michael Long and cousin to Essendon-listed Jake Long had arguably his best outing at AFL level in the Saints’ surprise draw with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.

Long gathered 15 touches at an elite 93.3 per cent disposal efficiency, as well as laying eight tackles and contributing three inside-50s and a goal.

The 20-year-old was highly influential in just his ninth game at AFL level and registered career highs in contested disposals (nine), metres gained (223) and pressure points (54).

But it was his clever goal in particular which announced his arrival as a force at the elite level.

With the Saints staging a comeback against the Giants and still 12 points down, Long found himself with the ball inside 50 but riding the boundary.

He lined up for what would have been a difficult set shot but instead “sold some candy” to the Giant on the mark, playing on to duck around him and snap a brilliant major.

Long’s performance followed the former Northern Territory under-18 captain’s career-high 18-possession effort a week earlier against Geelong.

The former St Mary’s young gun, who is cousins with Cyril Rioli, is the Territory’s first rising star nominee since good mate and Geelong Cat Brandan Parfitt last season.

Long has impressed senior officials at the Saints since arriving, playing four games in his debut season and quickly re-signing in June last year until 2019.