Michael Long (footballer)

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Michael Long
OAM
Long on The Long Walk in 2014
Personal information
Full name Michael Long
Date of birth (1969-10-01) 1 October 1969 (age 54)[1]
Place of birth Tiwi Islands
Original team(s) St Mary's/West Torrens
Draft No. 23., 1988 national draft
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 82 kg (181 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1988 West Torrens 022 0(11)
1989–2001 Essendon 190 (143)
Total 212 (154)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1988 Northern Territory 3 (9)
1993 QLD/NT 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2001.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Michael Long OAM (born (1969-10-01)1 October 1969) is a former Australian rules footballer of Aboriginal descent who became a spokesperson for Indigenous rights and against racism in sport in Australia.

Long was an accomplished player, having played in dual Australian Football League (AFL) premierships with the Essendon Football Club, including a Norm Smith Medal for his 1993 grand final performance.

As an activist, he is credited with being instrumental in the introduction of a racial vilification code in the AFL in 1995 and the inspiration behind "The Long Walk" commemorating the Stolen Generations, now a strong AFL tradition. In August 2023, Long began a 650-kilometre (400 mi) walk between Melbourne and Canberra in support of the forthcoming Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. He completed the walk in 20 days and arrived in Canberra on 14 September 2023.

Early life[edit]

Michael Long was born on 1 October 1969[2] to mother Agnes and father Jack Long. Both were removed from their parents at a young age and taken to Melville Island, one of the Tiwi Islands. Jack's half Chinese and half English father fought unsuccessfully for custody of his son.[3] Agnes was taken from Daly River near Darwin, and Jack was taken from Ti Tree near Alice Springs.[4] Michael was raised on the Tiwi Islands.

Early career[edit]

Long moved to Darwin to play with St Mary's, where he played in several premierships. In 1988, he represented the Northern Territory at the Adelaide Bicentennial Carnival in March, and his outstanding performances in the dominant NT team saw enormous interest in his recruitment from various first-class clubs throughout the country, including Essendon, which nominated him in the 1988 VFL draft.[a][5][6]

Despite being drafted to the Victorian Football League (VFL), South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club West Torrens argued that Long was "contracted with the club and could not play anywhere else". Recruiter Noel Judkins said, "I was guaranteed this wasn't the case, so I took the contract to Darwin and met with Michael's father Jack, and he was irate. He grabbed it and wrote the word 'bullshit' right across the front of it. When it became clear he wanted to play at Essendon, West Torrens agreed it wasn't a binding contract."[citation needed]

However, despite this, Long did play for West Torrens during the 1988 SANFL season, winning the club's best-and-fairest award, the third-last player to do so, as the Eagles merged with the Woodville Football Club following the 1990 season to become the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.

Australian Football League career[edit]

Long played perhaps the best game of his career in the 1993 AFL grand final. Playing on Mark Athorn, Long ran amok, helping Essendon gain a healthy quarter-time lead and then maintain it. By the end of the game, he had amassed 20 kicks and 13 handballs, totalling 33 possessions.[7] Long's performance was rewarded with the Norm Smith Medal, which was presented to him by fellow Tiwi Islander Maurice Rioli.[8]

In the pre-season of 1994, in a practice match against West Coast, Long injured his knee, which required 12 months of solid rehabilitation, and he was not seen for the entire home-and-away season.[citation needed]

In 1995, Long made a triumphant return to AFL football and played almost a full season. In the inaugural Anzac Day match between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG, an incident of racial abuse targeting Long occurred, which was to have a lasting impact on the game.[9]

For the next two seasons, Long needed knee surgery and only took the field seven times. He missed the first half of 1998 while recovering from the surgery, but he finished the year strongly, playing in nine games.[citation needed]

According to the round 3, 1999 edition of the AFL Record, between the beginning of the 1994 and the end of the 1998 seasons, Long played only 38 of a possible 119 games.[citation needed]

Long had the honour of kicking the first-ever goal at the new Docklands Stadium when it opened in 2000. He was also a member of Essendon's record-breaking premiership team in 2000 which lost only one game for the entire season. Long faced heavy scrutiny for his bump on Troy Simmonds, which rendered Simmonds unconscious and raised the possibility of him losing mobility. While this never eventuated, the incident prompted the AFL to introduce new rules protecting players with their heads over the ball. Long was thus suspended for the afct.[citation needed]

2001 was Long's final season, and although Essendon again made the grand final, Long aggravated a hamstring injury during training in the week leading up to the match and was forced to name himself unavailable on the eve of the game, which Essendon lost to Brisbane.

Racial abuse[edit]

In the inaugural Anzac Day match of the 1995 season between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG, Long made an official complaint after he had been racially taunted by Collingwood ruckman Damian Monkhorst. The AFL arranged a mediation session between Long and Monkhorst and held a media conference. Although Long was clearly unsatisfied by the short-term outcome of their meeting, and both players received death threats, the long-term result was that it set a racial vilification code that held players to account for racist acts on the field. An AFL investigation after the incident showed that at least 10 players from six clubs regularly racially abused players.[9] Consequently, since this incident, there have only been a handful of widely publicised accusations of racial taunts by a player on the AFL field in the following three decades, although racial abuse from fans has proved to be a recurring issue over the years.[10][11][9][12]

Twenty years after the incident, at the MCG to launch the 11th Long Walk in 2015, Monkhorst and Long met and shook hands in a mutually respectful manner. Long said that Monkhorst had since shown great leadership.[9]

In 1997, Peter "Spida" Everitt also racially abused Long, which ironically drew a free kick to Everitt due to Long's enraged physical response.[13][14] Although nothing of consequence happened from the Long–Everitt incident, Everitt racially vilified Melbourne's Scott Chisholm two years later and undertook a racial awareness training program as well as donating $20,000 to a charity of Chisholm's choice. In addition, Everitt lost $50,000–$60,000 in match bonuses (depending on sources) from the incident.[15][16][17][18] The incident came a week after Sam Newman infamously donned blackface to mock Nicky Winmar for declining to come on The Footy Show.[19][14]

Post-football activism[edit]

Following his retirement, Long became a spokesman for Indigenous Australians. He was a critic of then-Prime Minister John Howard's policies towards Indigenous Australians—most notably Howard's refusal to make an apology to the Stolen Generations. In a letter published in Melbourne's The Age, Long likened Howard to "those cold-hearted pricks" who stole his parents.[20]

First Long Walk[edit]

Long's political activities culminated in a protest march from Melbourne to Canberra, leaving on 21 November 2004. The aim of the walk was to obtain a meeting with the Prime Minister. After ten days of intense media scrutiny of the walk, Prime Minister Howard eventually granted Long a meeting, at which point Long called an end to the walk, having completed about 325 kilometres (202 mi) of the planned 650-kilometre (400 mi) walk.[20][21] He later said: "I wanted to make a change. It was about challenging the government about some of the issues Aboriginal people were facing and still face – education, employment, health, housing, the Stolen Generations."[22]

The walk became known as The Long Walk, and the tradition of a commemorative community walk in Melbourne has continued, with thousands turning out for the event.[23] The walk takes place in late May or early June before the annual Dreamtime at the 'G match, starting at Federation Square and ending at the MCG.[22] Long is patron of The Long Walk, an organisation inspired by his walk and which works for the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.[23]

Second Long Walk[edit]

In August 2023 Long began a 650-kilometre (400 mi) walk between Melbourne and Canberra, this time in support of the forthcoming Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.[24] He completed the walk after 20 days, arriving at Parliament House in Canberra on 14 September. He reported that he had experienced "overwhelming support" from people he met in regional Australia.[25]

Other activities and roles[edit]

In July 2011, Long signed up as ambassador for weight-loss agency Jenny Craig, partly to highlight Indigenous health.[26]

In 2015, he became board member of the newly founded Michael Long Foundation (MLF), and in 2016 the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre (MLLLC) opened in Darwin. MLF funds education and football programs for indigenous people, and the MLLLC, funded by the federal government and managed by AFL Northern Territory, aims to nurture talent and improve lives and communities.[27][28]

Recognition, honours and awards[edit]

In 2002, an Essendon panel ranked Long at number 23 in their Champions of Essendon list of the 25 greatest players ever to have played for Essendon.[citation needed]

Long was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, for "service to Australian rules football, and to the Indigenous community".[29]

Personal life[edit]

Long is renowned for his sharp wit. In an incident recalled by Long's only VFL/AFL coach, Kevin Sheedy, there was a fundraiser to reconstruct Windy Hill that was under way, and Sheedy was conducting a serious training session in front of a whiteboard and 200 people, mostly money donors. He paused to ask if anyone had a question. To the surprise of all that knew him, Long, who apparently hadn't spoken up during a training session in five years, raised his hand, causing people to fall silent to hear Long speak. Long asked, "What was wrong with the blackboard?"[30]

In 2006, Long was charged with assaulting a man at a football club function in Darwin.[31] He pleaded guilty when the case came to trial in 2009, saying that he had struck a man who had attacked his sister. No conviction was recorded, with the magistrate saying that he was unlikely to reoffend.[32]

In 2018, Long was treated for a life-threatening infectious disease, melioidosis, in a hospital in Darwin; however, this did not stop him from announcing plans for a second Long Walk, as he was honoured for the Sir Doug Nicholls Round at Dreamtime at the 'G in May 2019.[33]

Playing statistics[edit]

[34]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  #  
 Played in that season's 
premiership team
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1989 Essendon 4 24 19 10 233 203 436 68 63 0.8 0.4 9.7 8.5 18.2 2.8 2.6 8
1990 Essendon 4 25 13 9 221 184 405 58 51 0.5 0.4 8.8 7.4 16.2 2.3 2.0 5
1991 Essendon 13 18 13 6 170 132 302 26 34 0.7 0.3 9.4 7.3 16.8 1.4 1.9 6
1992 Essendon 13 17 13 8 182 157 339 56 34 0.8 0.5 10.7 9.2 19.9 3.3 2.0 7
1993# Essendon 13 18 12 4 228 188 416 72 40 0.7 0.2 12.7 10.4 23.1 4.0 2.2 1
1994 Essendon 13 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1995 Essendon 13 22 27 18 294 221 515 80 40 1.2 0.8 13.4 10.0 23.4 3.6 1.8 16
1996 Essendon 13 2 2 0 9 6 15 1 2 1.0 0.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 0.5 1.0 0
1997 Essendon 13 5 4 6 37 39 76 19 3 0.8 1.2 7.4 7.8 15.2 3.8 0.6 2
1998 Essendon 13 9 9 4 54 60 114 30 9 1.0 0.4 6.0 6.7 12.7 3.3 1.0 2
1999 Essendon 13 20 12 12 223 122 345 62 27 0.6 0.6 11.2 6.1 17.3 3.1 1.4 9
2000# Essendon 13 23 18 18 230 135 365 72 59 0.8 0.8 10.0 5.9 15.9 3.1 2.6 2
2001 Essendon 13 7 1 4 42 30 72 16 16 0.1 0.6 6.0 4.3 10.3 2.3 2.3 0
Career 190 143 99 1923 1477 3400 560 378 0.8 0.5 10.1 7.8 17.9 2.9 2.0 58

Honours and achievements[edit]

Team

Individual

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ While the top-flight league back then was known as the VFL at this time, players could be drafted across the country, hence it is also known as the VFL National Draft during this period.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers (7th ed.). Bas Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
  2. ^ "Michael Long — Stats — Statistics". AFL Tables (in Luxembourgish). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  3. ^ Aboriginal footy elder plans long trip home by Lindsay Murdoch 23 September 2010
  4. ^ Michael Long Foundation
  5. ^ "1988 VFL National Draft". Draftguru. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  6. ^ "1988 AFL Draft". users.comcen.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  7. ^ "AFL Tables - Essendon v Carlton - Sat, 25-Sep-1993 2:30 PM - Match Stats". afltables.com. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  8. ^ "NT great to present Norm Smith". Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d "Michael Long and Damian Monkhorst look back on AFL racism incident 20 years on". ABC News (Australia). 29 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Infamous AFL racism incidents". The Age. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  11. ^ "'I hope I'm not remembered for one remark': Taylor Walker unsure of playing future after racism scandal". ABC News. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Racism in AFL much less: Long". The Age. 8 May 2003.
  13. ^ 1997 discussion around racism. AFL. Wayne Jackson, Leigh Matthews, Talking Footy., retrieved 17 April 2023
  14. ^ a b "McNamara, Lawrence --- "Tackling Racial Hatred: Conciliation, Reconciliation and Football" [2000] AUJlHRights 18; (2000) 6(2) Australian Journal of Human Rights 5". classic.austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  15. ^ McFarlane, Glenn (21 March 2009). "Peter Everitt wants to erase a dirty memory". Sunday Herald Sun. News Corp. Retrieved 24 October 2009.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Infamous AFL racism incidents". The Age. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Everitt accuses Murphy of attempting to incite racism". The Age. 26 July 2002. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  18. ^ "McNamara, Lawrence --- "Tackling Racial Hatred: Conciliation, Reconciliation and Football" [2000] AUJlHRights 18; (2000) 6(2) Australian Journal of Human Rights 5". classic.austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Australian rules: Racism backfires on St Kilda player". The Independent. 9 April 1999. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  20. ^ a b Landers, Kim (3 December 2004). "Long walk secures meeting with Howard Reporter". Lateline. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  21. ^ "Michael Long: From bush to big smoke". Torres News. No. 551. Queensland, Australia. 23 May 2003. p. 2. Retrieved 23 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ a b Di Sisto, Peter (23 May 2019). "The Long vision". Essendon Football Club. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  23. ^ a b "About". The Long Walk. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  24. ^ "AFL legend Michael Long urges Australia to 'come together' with Yes vote on Voice". ABC News. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  25. ^ Hohnen, Mike (14 September 2023). "'This referendum is so important': Michael Long completes 20-day walk to parliament" (video). The Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  26. ^ Langmaid, Aaron (5 July 2011). "Michael Long makes a stand for indigenous health". Herald Sun. [dead link]
  27. ^ "About". Michael Long Foundation. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  28. ^ "New Michael Long sports academy using football to improve lives and communities". Australian Govt. Dept of Prime Minister & Cabinet. Indigenous Affairs. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Queen's Birthday 2021 Honours - the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  30. ^ Kevin Sheedy recalls the time a shy Michael Long brought the house down at Essendon training!, archived from the original on 22 December 2021, retrieved 24 September 2021
  31. ^ "Ex-AFL star Long on assault charges". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  32. ^ "AFL great escapes assault conviction". 17 March 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2019.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ Vaughan, Roger (24 May 2019). "AFL great Long reflects on health scare". Victor Harbor Times. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  34. ^ Michael Long's player profile at AFL Tables

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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