AFL Player 4: Kyle Langford

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Restricted Free Agent 2026
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 8, boncer34

 

[citizen-erased]

Not so bad.

Deliberate understatement?

I thought Francis played some footy in the midfield too.

I'm not sure what the clubs plan is for him though.

Indeed.

Heppell, Myers, Parish, Merrett, Laverde, Langford, Zaharakis, Fantasia, possibly Colyer.
And to Doug85's post, i reckon we will turn Francis into a mid once his engine is there.

And there are two decent Vic boys on the gold coast we can offer cash to with the salary cap space we have.
One or both of Prestia and O'Meara in that midfield boosts things along.

 

[Autobahn]

I find it comical that there are expectations of the kid to become a gun afl mid when hes never done that at junior level.

Bonafide afl mids dont struggle for double digit possessions in there second year.

Heppell, zach merrett recent examples.

Our last 10 years is all about trying to convert a hbf into a midfielder and failing. Seems to be an obsession with our recruiters and supporters.

One day we'll get lucky. Hang in there

Just LOL.

 

[BrunoV]

Indeed.

Heppell, Myers, Parish, Merrett, Laverde, Langford, Zaharakis, Fantasia, possibly Colyer.
And to Doug85's post, i reckon we will turn Francis into a mid once his engine is there.

And there are two decent Vic boys on the gold coast we can offer cash to with the salary cap space we have.
One or both of Prestia and O'Meara in that midfield boosts things along.

We get a lot forced down our throats about the young midfields of teams like GC, GWS, St Kilda and the Dogs (while ignoring what Melbourne is building).

A long term midfield based on Heppell, Z. Merrett, Fantasia, Langford, Laverde, Parish and, probably, Francis has a near perfect blend of speed, size, running power, foot skills, tackling intensity and inside grunt. That's just the known quantities and top end picks who have 8 or more years left in their careers and doesn't include the qualities of guys like Myers, Zaharakis who have a lot of footy left and the older guys.

 

[citizen-erased]

We get a lot forced down our throats about the young midfields of teams like GC, GWS, St Kilda and the Dogs (while ignoring what Melbourne is building).

A long term midfield based on Heppell, Z. Merrett, Fantasia, Langford, Laverde, Parish and, probably, Francis has a near perfect blend of speed, size, running power, foot skills, tackling intensity and inside grunt. That's just the known quantities and top end picks who have 8 or more years left in their careers and doesn't include the qualities of guys like Myers, Zaharakis who have a lot of footy left and the older guys.

Yep.
Add to that:
Morgan looks a great pick up. Speed and attack on the ball.
Bird, Myers, Zaka, Jerrett (i still have faith), and possibly even Ambrose as a run with tagger, are our mid-aged players.
We have depth through the middle and a very good backline should we get all of Hooker, Hurley and Hibberd back. And if Pears makes a return.
Its our ruck depth and forward line that just doesn't cut it at the moment.

 

[Oraaaaazio]

Merrett and Heppell aren't examples of two young mids who put in acceptable performances, they are examples of two outstanding second year mids. Comparing all second year players to them and expecting that standard is ridiculous and you're just setting yourself up for perpetual disappointment.

 

[Doss]

But that wouldn't be the chicken little option.

 

[Howard Moon]

its a bit of a false economy though - alot of kids play midfield in the TAC just via pure ability, because they are the best player of their crop... dosent mean they are actually good midfielders or natural midfielders though. Its not until they reach the big league that it all gets filtered out and the real midfielders are found and the other jnr stars get spread out to the flanks and what not

 

[bombreys]

Made a few bad errors, wasn't as good as he was against Blues. But he'll learn.

Also, just as a broader statement, not every single player we draft has to turn into a gun midfielder.

 

[eth-dog]

I thought Francis played some footy in the midfield too.

I'm not sure what the clubs plan is for him though.

He's a Brendan Goddard clone.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Correctamundo.

Has too many moments of ball watching and freezing up with ball in hand for mine. Its a trait that kills most young AFL players careers.

Some hang in there with athletic ability and height.

Still got plenty of time on hands but he's a worry at the moment imo.

elaborate troll

 

[daffo]

I liked the fact that he had to follow Danger around all day. Great for development. Shows him the level he needs to get to.

 

[BrunoV]

Made a few bad errors, wasn't as good as he was against Blues. But he'll learn.

Also, just as a broader statement, not every single player we draft has to turn into a gun midfielder.

Agree with that and until a few weeks ago I was thinking of him as more of a permanent forward, but the way he has been able to translate his comfort in midfield traffic displayed in the VFL in the second half of last year to a high level has me thinking that he is actually a gun midfielder in the making.

 

[scatman john]

And there are two decent Vic boys on the gold coast we can offer cash to with the salary cap space we have.
One or both of Prestia and O'Meara in that midfield boosts things along.

Pretty sure that O'Meara is from Perth. If the meatball Prestia is unsigned by end of year, it's probable he'd move back to Victoria though

 

[eth-dog]

Pretty sure that O'Meara is from Perth. If the meatball Prestia is unsigned by end of year, it's probable he'd move back to Victoria though

O'Meara is from Perth but the speculation is that he'll probably move to Melbourne because of investment reasons, and his GF is a Melbourne girl.

 

[Howard Moon]

Pretty sure that O'Meara is from Perth. If the meatball Prestia is unsigned by end of year, it's probable he'd move back to Victoria though

He may be from perf but im pretty sure his Girlfriend is in Melbourne.. and we all know who wins that battle

 

[yodellinhank]

Any player who is stupid enough to choose to come to essendon is probably someone I don't want.

 

[Doss]

 

[eth-dog]

Yeah, anyway, we have a separate thread for this stuff...

 

[Oraaaaazio]

eth-mod

 

[Doss]

Actually is right, though. Give that good old trade/draft thread a whirl if we want to go down that path.

 

[lysp]

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Some one needs to gif the bump on Danger.

 

[Shane Hird]

Some one needs to gif the bump on Danger.

Perfectly timed, perfect execution and aimed at the number one player for the opposition.

Was awesome.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Perfectly timed, perfect execution and aimed at the number one player for the opposition.

Was awesome.

He's a solid unit players are going to have a hard time trying to drag him down in a tackle.

 

[Howard Moon]

My thoughts on his two games so far have been that he's very clearly a VFL player. And if he looks like that in the pre-season, he's no chance.

next you'll tell us theres no santa claus and the tooth fairy dosen't exist