AFL Player 4: Kyle Langford

[Beerfish]

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

 

[daffo]

Seemed a little off the pace against Carlton and was getting a bit lost. First time at "AFL" level after 3 or 4 years in the VFL so it was understandable.

Looks like he has more than enough attributes to make the grade though I'm not sure that half back is the position.

I agree with this although he had a much better second half.

 

[daffo]

He was a lot more composed with ball in hand. He is progressing well and would expect him to start influence games this year. I'm still more of a fan of Laverde but I'm expecting more and more from Langford each time I see him play.

 

[BrunoV]

Hope Langford spends more time forward - Has forward smarts and his smart leading will create space.

You and I will be at odds on this, but I'd be looking more and more at Langford playing on a wing and in the middle as much as possible . I like him in traffic and on the ball that much, it also gives us the space to play three big forwards (Daniher, McKernan and Grimley) with 1 or 2 other spots for a combination of players like McKenna, Edwards, J. Merrett, Eades and Stokes as the smalls to keep the ground level pressure high.

 

[Pweter]

Hope Langford spends more time forward - Has forward smarts and his smart leading will create space.

You and I will be at odds on this, but I'd be looking more and more at Langford playing on a wing and in the middle as much as possible . I like him in traffic and on the ball that much, it also gives us the space to play three big forwards (Daniher, McKernan and Grimley) with 1 or 2 other spots for a combination of players like McKenna, Edwards, J. Merrett, Eades and Stokes as the smalls to keep the ground level pressure high.

With reduced rotations starting this season, why can't we have the best of both worlds where he can play forward but play significant bursts on the ball? It is almost the reverse of what Freo are doing with Fyfe in that he is playing midfield but spending significant chunks of time forward.

As Langford develops a call can be made as to whether he increases the midfield minutes or not.

 

[Matt loves Essendon]

I was in the unfortunate position to only get to see about 3 minutes of that match, but in those 3 minutes I saw Langford set up the Goddard goal. 2 things sprung to mind immediately:

• The guy is developing a serious rig and will be a unit in another year or 2
• He's very composed in traffic with great vision

Taking those into account combined with how the VFL watchers described his final last season has me genuinely excited about this bloke's future.

People on this very board were writing him off during this off-season to my complete bewilderment. No idea how you can say he won't make it at this stage. He has shown some pretty nice composure, good vision & ball use and the ability to pop up in space up forward. That set up of the Goddard goal is a good example of his quality. The other example that immediately springs to mind is this piece of play (3:24) where Goddard kicks it to Langas, he wheels around and unleashes a beautifully weighted kick over the top to Hooksy. That is class. He has some great strings to his bow and is now starting to get a stronger body as well.

He is unfairly compared to Laverde as they were taken together. I also rate Laverde higher but I also see Langford being a very serious footballer.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

People on this very board were writing him off during this off-season to my complete bewilderment. No idea how you can say he won't make it at this stage. He has shown some pretty nice composure, good vision & ball use and the ability to pop up in space up forward. That set up of the Goddard goal is a good example of his quality. The other example that immediately springs to mind is this piece of play (3:24) where Goddard kicks it to Langas, he wheels around and unleashes a beautifully weighted kick over the top to Hooksy. That is class. He has some great strings to his bow and is now starting to get a stronger body as well.

He is unfairly compared to Laverde as they were taken together. I also rate Laverde higher but I also see Langford being a very serious footballer.

Not sure why but I seeing Langford having a higher ceiling than Laverde.

 

[Rack Watts]

Not sure why but I seeing Langford having a higher ceiling than Laverde.

They live together, so chances are their ceilings are the same height.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

They live together, so chances are their ceilings are the same height.

Surprised it took so long for someone to say.

 

[BrunoV]

With reduced rotations starting this season, why can't we have the best of both worlds where he can play forward but play significant bursts on the ball? It is almost the reverse of what Freo are doing with Fyfe in that he is playing midfield but spending significant chunks of time forward.

As Langford develops a call can be made as to whether he increases the midfield minutes or not.

The references to positions is artificial in this day and age because of the way that the midfield has expanded by 4 to 6 positions depending on which team you're watching. Just thinking of it in terms of the way the rest of the team would be selected. If Langford is look at as a midfielder who can rest forward we select other permanent forward.

 

[Rumpold]

He was a lot more composed with ball in hand. He is progressing well and would expect him to start influence games this year. I'm still more of a fan of Laverde but I'm expecting more and more from Langford each time I see him play.

I think we forget that Langford has literally just turned 19 ( most draftees debut when they are 19). So in reality Laverde has near on 12 months on him , but Langford has a year theoretically of teenage development under him if this makes sense. Langford and laverde are distinctly different players. Langford is quite smooth , very quick between the ears and able to look beyond the obvious as shown several times yesterday with many handballs. laverde is quite a brute , very polished and much more straight running. Langford would be a better variety kick and Laverde is simply more aggressive at the player but they are equally tough. They will play a similar midfield role but Langford being 193cm can be considered a very mobile tall forward and really a very good wingman because of his hard to match up height.!!!

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Currently has no position in AFL, doesn't get it enough and not a natural footballer.

Huge concerns for me at this point in time. Be interesting to see how much progress he makes this year.

 

[Beerfish]

Currently has no position in AFL, doesn't get it enough and not a natural footballer.

Huge concerns for me at this point in time. Be interesting to see how much progress he makes this year.

Sure you're in the right player thread?

 

[Rumpold]

Currently has no position in AFL, doesn't get it enough and not a natural footballer.

Huge concerns for me at this point in time. Be interesting to see how much progress he makes this year.

Who the hell are you talking about !!!! Langford or Jones

 

[Matt loves Essendon]

Currently has no position in AFL, doesn't get it enough and not a natural footballer.

Huge concerns for me at this point in time. Be interesting to see how much progress he makes this year.

Not a natural footballer? I'd say the exact opposite.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Sure you're in the right player thread?

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.

 

[Rumpold]

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.

Mate youve NO IDEA at all. Its called " poise" and or composure

 

[Lore]

Mate youve NO IDEA at all. Its called " poise" and or composure

While I agree with you, I'd probably frame that a bit more respectfully.

 

[Rumpold]

If hes a worry god help 80% of afl draftees.

 

[quotemokc]

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.

 

[eDPS]

Currently has no position in AFL, doesn't get it enough and not a natural footballer.

Huge concerns for me at this point in time. Be interesting to see how much progress he makes this year.

His position will be inside midfielder who can swing forward, has clean hands, composure and a decent kick and still has plenty of size to put on. Don't expect massive leaps this year but next year and year after should announce himself as a real threat.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

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.

Now you're just looking for attention.

 

[Doss]

Trust.

 

[BrunoV]

Currently has no position in AFL, doesn't get it enough and not a natural footballer.

Huge concerns for me at this point in time. Be interesting to see how much progress he makes this year.

 

[Shane Hird]

Currently has no position in AFL, doesn't get it enough and not a natural footballer.

Huge concerns for me at this point in time. Be interesting to see how much progress he makes this year.

Huge concerns hey?

Jeepers..

 

[Don Won]

Yes, but but why didn't he bomb it long!?