LONG, Jake

Jake Long was selected at pick 47 in the AFL Rookie Draft of 2014. He had played for St Mary's in the Northern Territory Football League and represented NT in the NAB AFL Under 18 National Championships in 2013 and 2014.

He spent several years at the James Hird Academy which is a junior development program that aims to identify, attract and nurture young players from non-traditional AFL regions. One of its founding principles is to continue to uphold and bolster the strong father-son tradition that has played such an important part throughout the history of the Bombers.

Long played one game with Essendon's VFL team in 2015 and most of the 2016 season before making his debut in Round 21, 2016, with a win over the Gold Coast Suns. He then played the final two games of the season. He was a speedy and skilful winger but had difficulty in securing a regular place in the team.

He was elevated to the senior list in 2017 but played no senior games. He spent most of the 2018 season in the VFL but managed two more senior games.

He was delisted at the end of the 2019 season and later played with the Cairns City Lions.

Jake is the son of Essendon Legend, Michael Long. His sister, Michaela, was an inaugural member of Essendon's VFLW team in 2017.