SMOOTH-MOVING utility Evie Long produced a breakout game for Queensland against the Allies on the weekend, kicking three goals in four minutes during the third term. She was the catalyst behind the Maroons streaking away on the Gold Coast, while also having the 13 disposals, six marks, five tackles and two inside 50.

2023 AFLW Under 18 Championships
Queensland 10.12 (72) def. Vic Country 6.6 (42)

STATS: 13 disposals (12 kicks, 1 handballs | 69.2% efficiency, 38.5% contested), 6 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 3 goals

FIRST HALF

Despite eventually doing her best work in attack, Evie Long won her first touch in defence, and moved well to deliver it effectively down the ground. In the the 12th minute, Long went for an intercept mark on the wing but it slipped past her outstretched hand.

She moved onto a wing and took an intercept juggling mark on the wing a moment later, where she kicked to a two-on-two contest at half-forward. Queensland retained possession and went forward. In the 15th minute, Long applied a good shepherd in the middle to allow Dekota Baron to stream through the middle.

Long’s pressure through the middle late in the term is something that featured throughout the first half, and in the 17th minute, forced a rushed turnover from an opponent. Though she only had the two additional disposals in the third term – to make it five for the half, Long still popped up around the ground with great second efforts.

SECOND HALF

Long’s second half was where the magic was made, having four disposals in the third term, three of which were kicks, all of which were goals. Her sole handball in the quarter came in the opening 30 seconds where she marked on the wing coming off a lead, and dished off to a teammate running by.

In the 10th minute, Long lead out to try and mark but it slipped off her hands being that slight bit too high for her. She would soon get her hands dirty at ground level, going in hard to win a contested ball and being tackled over the shoulder.

Long’s subsequent free kick from 20m out went straight through the middle for her first goal, and she became the first Queensland player to kick at least one goal in each of her state’s three games. A minute later, she was on the end of a two-grab mark leading out with nice speed, and duly converted that set shot from 35m as well.

Not taking a break, in the 14th minute, Long pressured her opponent in the pocket then pushed to the goalsquare where again she tapped it once in front to control it and keep it away from her opposing defender, then pulled it down with the second bite.

Three goals down, and Long was hungry for more, presenting in a pack less than a minute but it was brought to ground. Her last notable play was a strong tackle on defender Mackenzie Williams to force a handball away.

In the fourth term, Long had a golden opportunity from the opening inside 50, going to soccer it off the deck from 15m out but instead had a fresh airey. She pushed higher up the ground to mark in the middle and produce a nice kick to Rania Crozier on the lead jut two minutes into the quarter.

With a few minutes remaining in the match, Long finished off on a high, marking 60m out, running to 45 and then putting it to Baron in the goalsquare to mark and convert Queensland’s final major of the day.

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Evie Long has shown some promising signs over the national carnival, and it culminated in a three-goal performance against the Allies. Though the goals all came within four minutes, she showcased her draftable traits. At 175cm, she is a good size to play a variety of roles and has played both wing and forward in the national carnival. Though a history of concussion has meant she has flown under the radar, Long is stepping up in a big way for her state.