More than a game for Saints gun Long
ST Kilda halfback Ben Long will use the AFL club’s second consecutive year with a trip to Cairns reconnect with community footy, and is a chance to catch up with family.
Up to 10,000 fans are expected to turn up to Cazalys Stadium when Saints face Port Adelaide on Saturday night in what shapes as an opportunity for St Kilda to press its claim as a top-four team and genuine title contender.
The Saints squad touched down in Far North Queensland earlier this week ahead of the AFL premiership match against Port Adelaide, and have spent the past few days connecting with the community via school visits and a well-attended open training session.
Long, 24, said the humid 30C days was a stark contrast to the team’s last outing – a brisk night win in Canberra over GWS.
“I love the weather up here,” he said after training at Cazalys Stadium on Wednesday night.
“It’s a bit of a different change, Canberra was pretty cool that night, but it was good to get the win.”
As well as the weather, Long received a warm welcome from his cousin Jake Long, who has starred for defending AFL Cairns premiers Cairns City Lions.
The Long family has produced its fair share of AFL talents, with Jake formerly at Essendon and his father Michael a fellow former Bomber and Norm Smith medallist.
Ben caught up with Jake while training, and said he hoped to see more of his cousin while the team is in Cairns.
Darwin-born Long added he recognised plenty of familiar NTFL faces among the AFL Cairns competition, including recent Lions full forward addition and Chaney medallist Jackson Calder.
“I’ve seen a couple of them since getting here, I haven’t seen them in a long time so it’s great to see my family but obviously the community as well,” Long said.
The Saints halfback will be one of many venturing down to Watsons Oval on Friday evening to see the Cairns v Townsville Clontarf Academy game and the inaugural women’s Cairns All-Stars versus Indigenous – South Pacific All Stars clash.
“Us Indigenous boys will get down, watch those games and get among the community for the kids,” Long said.
The all-star format has been used for the men’s competition for some time, but was introduced to the women’s competition this year, where it has been warmly accepted, particularly in Indigenous and Torres Strait communities.
“Footy is a massive sport and it’s definitely grown in different areas,” Long, an Indigenous Aussie rules football advocate, said.
“I know Cairns and Queensland there’s a rugby background but it’s definitely great for the community to see people picking up footy.
“Seeing more women’s teams and Indigenous teams going on – it’s really important and good to be a part of.”