MICHAEL Long's extraordinary career and community work has been recognised with the Bombers unveiling a statue of the Norm Smith medallist at the club.

The statue – which is the only one at the club – stands at the entrance of the Bombers' Tullamarine headquarters.

It was commissioned by the Bombers and club director Dave Barham and his family, and comprises elements of Long's on and off-field contribution to the game.

Long is holding a walking stick and wearing the Bombers' red sash, and his playing No.13 is on his back.

The stick represents his walk to Canberra, when Long embarked on an historical trek in 2004 from Melbourne to Parliament House in Canberra to highlight issues pertinent to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

"I'd like to thank the club and the Barham family for commissioning the statue, the artist has done an incredible job acknowledging my playing career and walk to Canberra. It's a surreal moment but something me and my family are very proud of," Long said.

"Without my football career, I wouldn’t have had a platform to drive change and establish The Long Walk charity."

Long, who has battled ill health in recent times, was present alongside family, friends, former coach Kevin Sheedy and Victorian premier Daniel Andrews at the unveiling on Tuesday.

Andrews' government has pledged $300,000 in funding over the next three years to The Long Walk charity for education programs.

Long played 190 games for Essendon between 1989-2001, including the Bombers' 1993 and 2000 premierships. He won the Norm Smith Medal as the best player in Essendon's '93 triumph over Carlton.