On 20/11/2024 at 20:56, Colm said:

Delighted with this pick. I would have taken him with pick one if we had it. Yes Lalor has a higher ceiling but Harvey is a safer bet and ready to go. 
 

Not at all as concerned as some about his 20 sprint time. I heard him interviewed earlier in the year and he said it’s the thing he has to work on the most. 
His 2km time trail is very good so he has good running ability. Putting too much time into speed in his draft year may have compromised his running ability and his performances. 
I expect it’s something that will improve once he has a couple of preseason under his belt. 
 

 

Hi Colm, I get what you're saying but I've always found this an odd concept. It suggests you can somehow quantify the unknown. I'm willing to be corrected, but I footy is full of those who have far exceeded what was thought possible and visa versa.

  On 20/11/2024 at 21:59, mo64 said:

Bingo!!!

The best mids currently in the AFL come in all shapes and sizes. Butters and Daicos are different to Bont and Cripps. Each have their strengths and weaknesses. Bont probably gets caught with the ball more than any mid, but is arguably the best player in the comp.

If Langford turns out to be a 20-30 goal a season mid due to his aerial ability, I couldn't care less how fast he can run a 20m sprint.

If he kicks 20-30 goals a season then he's more damaging than Oliver who has only kicked 54 goals in his career so far.

Got some booming kicks in this midfield now. 

  On 21/11/2024 at 00:04, Redleg said:

That was my daughter’s comment, that he seemed a little disappointed.

Maybe he was just processing it.

That’s ok. I think he was a Tiger supporter. All the kids would have their preferences so it would be understandable if he had an emotional connection to Richmond. Once he gets down to training with his teammates and coaches he will feel an immediate connection with the Dees. 

Don’t forget we had a horrendous year in regard to public scrutiny and running media commentary. The negative press has infected the footy world and pubic perception of the club. That’s why it is so important to have a successful year on and off the track. 

  On 21/11/2024 at 00:31, seventyfour said:

Every picture i've ever seen of Langford, he looks depressed. My point is that it has nothing to do with Melbourne drafting him, it's just him.

From what I've heard from a couple of people that have had a bit to do with him over the journey, is that this is entirely the case. Super serious bloke and people are reading way  too much into his body language. At the end of the day we're dealing with an individual and people need to remember for all the predictive analysis one can do, there is still a significant amount of unpredictability and randomness involved with human interactions. 

I don't think Langford being selected by Melbourne is the causative reason for his on-stage disposition. 

Edited November 21, 2024Nov 21 by BLWNBA

  On 21/11/2024 at 00:09, Young Angus said:

Oh well he is a Richmond supporter his whole life I think but he will be part of a good team with some great players, not to mention his mate Caleb Windsor, I reckon he'll be right.  He seems very reserved anyway as others have said.  Interesting they didn't interview him though straight away like the other players...

Edited November 21, 2024Nov 21 by DeeZone

  On 21/11/2024 at 01:07, DeeZone said:

 

I didn’t think that Dixon’s interviews with Langdon or Lindsay were much chop, he didn’t talk us up like he did the Tiges, Blues, etc.

I didn't really get he was unhappy with being selected, I just got that he's a teenager still going through the non-communicative grunty teenage boy phase that they all seem to experience at some stage.

  On 21/11/2024 at 01:23, Katrina Dee Fan said:

I didn't really get he was unhappy with being selected, I just got that he's a teenager still going through the non-communicative grunty teenage boy phase that they all seem to experience at some stage.

You mean like I am now?

  On 20/11/2024 at 11:28, Redleg said:

More like Disco.

Speaking of which, Disco is our one forward who leads out to receive for goal opportunities; with a step upwards, he must be encouraged to continue this practice ... now he has a few more midfielders (most still developing but not looking backwards) from whom his meal ticket could reasonably be enormously nutritive. I really hope that our more experienced yet static forwards get the message and lust after forward line spaces.  

  On 21/11/2024 at 00:42, layzie said:

Got some booming kicks in this midfield now. 

Rivers and Langers banging them from 60

  On 21/11/2024 at 01:33, Redleg said:

You mean like I am now?

Exactly. Look at the state of the world,  the state of the economy, climate change. It’s a dog eat dog world that lacks compassion and kindness.  The majority of people are doing it tough. Give me a serious minded kid any day over she’ll be right mate. I like this serious no nonsense kid. Although he seems to be 18 going on 30.  
I need to lie down, where is that couch. 

I put it down to nerves. 

He just got drafted knowing that he was about to have a microphone stuck in his face.

A quick look at his Insta, his responses are about as monosyllabic as his interview last night. He's simply a man of few words.

  On 21/11/2024 at 01:39, Deemania since 56 said:

Speaking of which, Disco is our one forward who leads out to receive for goal opportunities; with a step upwards, he must be encouraged to continue this practice ... now he has a few more midfielders (most still developing but not looking backwards) from whom his meal ticket could reasonably be enormously nutritive. I really hope that our more experienced yet static forwards get the message and lust after forward line spaces.  

'Nutritive meal ticket'...

i'm excited ... genuinely excited 😁😁😁

kid is gonna be a beast

looks ready to go ... expect him to get games early in season

  On 21/11/2024 at 02:06, Katrina Dee Fan said:

He's simply a man of few words.

Here's a chance for posters to use "laconic" properly!     (see also adj. "reticent")

  On 21/11/2024 at 00:39, demon3165 said:

If he kicks 20-30 goals a season then he's more damaging than Oliver who has only kicked 54 goals in his career so far.

1 pretty important one though.

If you think Langford looked depressed being picked up by Melbourne, who recalls Tanner Bruhn's reaction when his name was called up for GWS?

 

I was lucky enough to attend a function last week re the draft and the scouting report on the kid was exceptional. The club that was hosting the function had:

O’Sullivan & Ashcroft grouped.

Langford & Smith the next 2.

Draper, Lalor & Lombard.

Travaglia, Tauru, Lindsay & Kako

They said Langford is the meanest player in the draft. Super competitive, good skills, great hands, very clean with the ball but by far the best quote was when they said he’d rip the arms off his opponent to get the footy back. Bit like Megatron ripping Jazz to pieces (awful film).

They would’ve picked him at 2.

Didn’t have a lot to say about Lindsay other than he was very evasive, highly skilled, deceptively tough and took ground when in possession.

  On 21/11/2024 at 03:06, Bring-Back-Powell said:

If you think Langford looked depressed being picked up by Melbourne, who recalls Tanner Bruhn's reaction when his name was called up for GWS?

 

Have a look at his face in the 2km time trial on the website.  That steely determined look compared with the others running behind.  When the game is on I don't think you need to worry about a depressed look.

  On 20/11/2024 at 11:45, RalphiusMaximus said:

Well, it's no secret that I have concerns about this pick, but he does look like a powerful bugger and a competitive beast.  I just hope they have a plan to work on his explosiveness.  He needs to add a burst of acceleration to his repertoire.  

That may not be possible to add “explosiveness” to his virtues. 
His strength will still be a huge asset and size also. If he was that slow it would already be an issue possibly so his all round game is in very good order. 

At 18 very few recruits can have no issues so all are trained on these and generally to improve at all times not just when they arrive at the Club.

Should be a super player ready to AFL by next years Round 1 probably. 

  On 21/11/2024 at 03:12, JJJ said:

I was lucky enough to attend a function last week re the draft and the scouting report on the kid was exceptional. The club that was hosting the function had:

O’Sullivan & Ashcroft grouped.

Langford & Smith the next 2.

Draper, Lalor & Lombard.

Travaglia, Tauru, Lindsay & Kako

They said Langford is the meanest player in the draft. Super competitive, good skills, great hands, very clean with the ball but by far the best quote was when they said he’d rip the arms off his opponent to get the footy back. Bit like Megatron ripping Jazz to pieces (awful film).

They would’ve picked him at 2.

Didn’t have a lot to say about Lindsay other than he was very evasive, highly skilled, deceptively tough and took ground when in possession.

Great info.

I’ve been watching a bit of him on YouTube and there is plenty to like.
Things that stand out:

- clean hands

- nice stoppage craft and seems to almost always get the ball out when tackled which is impressive and may balance the speed issue

- speaking of speed, he doesn’t stand out as being slow

- excellent work rate, constantly making multiple efforts, this really stands out

- VERY left sided

- very very good mark for a mid

- easily kicks 50m, kicking is good without standing out 

- decision-making is solid too

- tough

Will play round 1 barring injury

On the club's socials this morning they put up interviews with both boys.  Harvey said he'd trained with Melbourne during the year, and was expecting to be drafted by Melbourne. He expressed he's excited about joining Melbourne, and that his favourite player to watch growing up was Petracca.  I don't think we have much to worry about.

He's a serious weapon and will drive our engine room for years to come. He's adept inside, outside, defending and in the air. Ultra consistent and no-one can stop him. If they get their hands on him, he either just breaks through it or has the Clarry like ability to get hands free and fire the handball off. He's super fit too, had one of the best 2km times at the combine, so will be able to step in straight away. 

Pair him with Windsor, Rivers, Lindsey and our midfield is set for the next generation after Viney, Trac and Clarry wind down. Others like Tholstrup, Kozzie and McVee will also contribute there too. We've managed to draft these kids all while being in premiership contention. Huge tick for our recruitment and list management teams!

Midfields win premierships, and we've rejuvenated ours nicely.