Anthony Long Biography

Essendon has delisted rookies Brendan Lee and Anthony Long.

Paddy Ryder has signed a new four-year deal with Essendon, saying that he never seriously considered leaving the Bombers.

"I'm a big family man and it's always in my mind wanting to go home and be with my family, but I made the right decision for my family in Melbourne - my daughter, my partner and also myself," he said.

"I see that the Essendon Football Club is the place for me to be to get the most out of myself."

West Coast has re-signed captain Darren Glass and Victorian-born midfielder Matt Rosa.

"I would like to continue to play my role in the evolution of the squad for as long as I think I have something to contribute," Glass said.

"It's a pretty exciting time at the football club and we are all enjoying the development of the younger players, who have helped to re-energise the senior players."

Matthew Leuenberger's Achilles injury is worse than expected, with the ruckman placed on the long-term injury list.

Scott Pendlebury signs a four-year contract extension with the Magpies citing family, friends and a desire to win more flags as the primary reasons for staying with the club.

"I want to play in premierships and I think I've got the best opportunity to do that at Collingwood," Pendlebury said.

"Then I suppose you look a bit deeper and all my family and friends are nearby so I can see them whenever I want as well, and I'm rapt to be a part of it all."

Anthony Morabito is set to play his first game in 18 months, and is confident he can have an impact at AFL level again.

"I'd like to think that I've run very good volumes, so when I get a fair bit of confidence and change of direction and all that, I'd like to think at the back end of the year I'd be able to have a fair impact," Morabito said.

"I'm just going to keep putting my hand up and giving good effort at [WAFL] level and hopefully that's what gets me picked. At this stage [my expectation] is purely to get a game."

Young Magpie ruckman Jonathon Ceglar's says his main challenge is to increase his body mass.

"It was a real focused program with weights, and lots of food. I didn't do as much extra cardio as I had been doing but lots more big weight sessions," Ceglar said.

"I have to make sure my food intake is big all the time. If I don't eat, I can drop weight quite easily and I've got make sure I'm still doing my weights and still eating heaps."

Anthony Long, nephew of former Bombers great Michael Long, has been delisted after battling hamstring injuries for much of his time at the club.

Fremantle has secured the services of talented half-back Paul Duffield and forward Chris Mayne, re-signing both to long-term deals.

"We are delighted to have Paul and Chris commit to the club because they are both young leaders and very important players," Fremantle general manager Brad Lloyd said.

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says the development to come from ex-Eagle Matt Spangher is well worth the draft pick used to recruit him.

"We just like to add to areas in our club where we think need some more assistance, and with Matty Spangher he's 195cm, a fantastic athlete and competitive," Longmire said.

"There's some pretty good boxes he ticks, so we think pick 73 was well worth it."

Young Geelong forward Steven Motlop will be sidelined for three months with a shoulder injury after being accidentally kneed in the back by teammate Tom Hawkins during the Cats' clash with Hawthorn.

Motlop, who had both shoulders rebuilt after being drafted in 2008, has avoided having to have a shoulder reconstruction and underwent a "bone moving" procedure this week instead.

Essendon draftee Anthony Long fulfilled a childhood dream when he lined up for the Bombers in his uncle's famous No. 13 jumper in a NAB Challenge match against Sydney in Blacktown.

"It was definitely a dream. I have gone for the Bombers since I can remember," Long said.

"It was fun just running out and to hear some of the supporters calling out. It was good to get the feel for the game and get a run in the senior team."