1 hour ago, Oxdee said:

Clayton Oliver after the first game

Clayton has at this stage of his career has won two coaches awards, a best and fairest in our premiership year and kicked a goal that sealed our first premiership in over 50 years then raised his arm to the crowd letting them know we just we had just won the premiership.

Let's hope the mob is right about Langford and Clayton brings back his best.

I think both are looking likely

I actually think he can be as good as Jordan Dawson or even better. I really hope they're proactive with re-signing him. I know he's Victorian but if he's not locked away, 17 other clubs will be asking about him soon enough.

Lego Langford rated the 25’ champion data rising star winner via SEN ahead of Reid & Curtin.

Rated #65 in the comp. Best rating by a first year player.

18 minutes ago, RedLegs23 said:

Lego Langford rated the 25’ champion data rising star winner via SEN ahead of Reid & Curtin.

Rated #65 in the comp. Best rating by a first year player.

63rd rated player in his first year of AFL footy - wow.

The scary thing is how much more upside he has compared to other ready made midfield guns like Rowell, Wines, Daicos and Harley Reid.

By that I mean those players of course got stronger and fitter after their first season. But not a hell of a lot bigger.

Langford almost has the build of a key position player, and will fill out quite a bit over the next 2-3 years and like most bigs take a while to get to optimal fitness.

As a comparison, Bont, who I've read Harvey based his game on as a junior, is 2 or 3 cms taller but was the same height when drafted as Harvey was drafted.

Give Harvey two more full AFL preseasons and he will be taller and significantly stronger and fitter than he is now.

And we shouldn't sleep on Lindsay as I suspect he'll be every bit as good the bison.

If, as seems to the case, Buckley is really keen on the coaching job, I can only imagine a big part of the attraction is the opportunity to build a team around two generational talents.

Edited August 27Aug 27 by binman

2 minutes ago, binman said:

65th rated player in his first year of AFL footy - wow.

The scary thing is how much more upside he has compared to other ready made midfield guns like Rowell, Wines, Daicos and Harley Reid.

By that I mean those players of course got stronger and fitter after their first season. But not a hell of a lot bigger.

Langford almost has the build of a key position player, and will fill out quite a bit over the next 2-3 years and like most bigs take a while to get to optimal fitness.

As a comparison, Bont, who I've read Harvey based his game on as a junior, is 2 or 3 cms taller but was the same height when drafted as Harvey was drafted.

Give Harvey two more full AFL preseasons and he will be taller and significantly stronger and fitter than he is now.

And we shouldn't sleep on Lindsay as I suspect he'll be every bit as good the bison.

If, as seems to the case, Buckley is really keen on the coaching job, I can only imagine a big part of the attraction is the opportunity to build a team around two generational talents.

It's actually 63, not 65.

Perhaps I'm the only one a little disappointed with aspects of his game.

I'll cope.

5 minutes ago, binman said:

65th rated player in his first year of AFL footy - wow.

The scary thing is how much more upside he has compared to other ready made midfield guns like Rowell, Wines, Daicos and Harley Reid.

By that I mean those players of course got stronger and fitter after their first season. But not a hell of a lot bigger.

Langford almost has the build of a key position player, and will fill out quite a bit over the next 2-3 years and like most bigs take a while to get to optimal fitness.

As a comparison, Bont, who I've read Harvey based his game on as a junior, is 2 or 3 cms taller but was the same height when drafted as Harvey was drafted.

Give Harvey two more full AFL preseasons and he will be taller and significantly stronger and fitter than he is now.

And we shouldn't sleep on Lindsay as I suspect he'll be every bit as good the bison.

If, as seems to the case, Buckley is really keen on the coaching job, I can only imagine a big part of the attraction is the opportunity to build a team around two generational talents.

And Kozzy.

A midfield of Kozzy, Langford and Clayton (if decides to stay and returns to his best) 🤤🤤

52 minutes ago, RedLegs23 said:

Lego Langford rated the 25’ champion data rising star winner via SEN ahead of Reid & Curtin.

Who won the Champion Data Expected Score award?? 🤞 😅

29 minutes ago, Gator said:

It's actually 63, not 65.

Perhaps I'm the only one a little disappointed with aspects of his game.

I'll cope.

Not a fan of the colour of his shoelaces g8r?

1 hour ago, binman said:

Langford almost has the build of a key position player, and will fill out quite a bit over the next 2-3 years and like most bigs take a while to get to optimal fitness.

& this is what gets me most excited about this kids prospects. Wait until he starts clunking those mark inside F50 because he’s aerial ability is gonna be a serious weapon for us when resting him forward.

1 hour ago, Gator said:

Perhaps I'm the only one a little disappointed with aspects of his game.

I hear you Gator, & no doubt he’s got a bit to work on, just as many other 19 y/o’s. But I tend to see it as an exciting part of his development.

I reckon he’ll eventually fill that heart & soul void that’s been missed since Gus. A void that’s become noticeably wider with each passing game.

13 hours ago, Gator said:

It's actually 63, not 65.

Perhaps I'm the only one a little disappointed with aspects of his game.

I'll cope.

I wouldn't say disappointed, but I agree he's got some areas to work on.

There's no doubt he lacks a little speed off the mark, which has become so critical in the last 3 years.

Yes, his footy iq helps, and yes he can improve his speed with training, but he'll never be super quick.

His overhead marking hasn't been as impressive as I expected from the vision I saw from his junior footy, though I suspect that's partly a function of not being able to monster opponents in the same way. That might change as he gets stronger.

My other knock on him is, seemingly like most lefties, he can't kick on his right. Melksham, koz and even fritter regularly demonstrate the value of bring able to kick well with both feet.

Langford seems a driven young man and I suspect he is type of player who can improve areaa weaknesses thri work and effort.

@Gator what do you see as his areas for improvement?

12 hours ago, RedLegs23 said:

I hear you Gator, & no doubt he’s got a bit to work on, just as many other 19 y/o’s. But I tend to see it as an exciting part of his development.

I reckon he’ll eventually fill that heart & soul void that’s been missed since Gus. A void that’s become noticeably wider with each passing game.

I add that in additional to heart and soul that void includes leadership too.

And it's a void that was exacerbated by nibbla going.

On field, and i suspecy off field, too much has been left to Maxy and Viney in terms of heart, soul and leadership this season.

Langford seems a natural leader, and has a come with me boys energy.

I think we saw that enegy against the pies - best on ground, his highest rated game of the season in front of 60k fans against the old enemy.

Pace is overrated. You get speed through fast ball movement which comes from running patterns and ball use.

Bizarre from @Gator , but each to their own.

Langford will be an A grader very quickly IMV.

Sure, he picks and chooses when to go sometimes, like most players these days, as to the question marks around his marking, the last month or so we started to see his aerial work.

No player at 18 or 19 should be the finished product.

10 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Bizarre from @Gator , but each to their own.

Langford will be an A grader very quickly IMV.

Sure, he picks and chooses when to go sometimes, like most players these days, as to the question marks around his marking, the last month or so we started to see his aerial work.

No player at 18 or 19 should be the finished product.

And Langford isn't, and irs that upside that makes me so bullish on him. Or should I day bisonish.

33 minutes ago, binman said:

I wouldn't say disappointed, but I agree he's got some areas to work on.

There's no doubt he lacks a little speed off the mark, which has become so critical in the last 3 years.

Yes, his footy iq helps, and yes he can improve his speed with training, but he'll never be super quick.

His overhead marking hasn't been as impressive as I expected from the vision I saw from his junior footy, though I suspect that's partly a function of not being able to monster opponents in the same way. That might change as he gets stronger.

My other knock on him is, seemingly like most lefties, he can't kick on his right. Melksham, koz and even fritter regularly demonstrate the value of bring able to kick well with both feet.

Langford seems a driven young man and I suspect he is type of player who can improve areaa weaknesses thri work and effort.

@Gator what do you see as his areas for improvement?

You've almost nailed my concerns.

Viney is a hack with his skills, but even he occasionally kicks on his right. And many, including Bontempelli are proficient. I've never seen Langford even attempt to use it.

He needs to improve his gound balls.

You got the contested marking right.

Plus, he's not as hard at the footy as I expected. Lindsay is far harder at the ball than Langford.

Cue the nuffies on here.

Edited August 26Aug 26 by Gator

20 minutes ago, Gator said:

You've almost nailed my concerns.

Viney is a hack with his skills, but even he occasionally kicks on his right. And many, including Bontempelli are proficient. I've never seen Langford even attempt to use it.

He needs to improve his gound balls.

You got the contested marking right.

Plus, he's not as hard at the footy as I expected. Lindsay is far harder at the ball than Langford.

Cue the nuffies on here.

Bit of Finn Callaghan in the way he is an oversized outside mid, played really well on the wing all year but lots of work to do as a stoppage midfielder for sure.

19 minutes ago, Gator said:

You've almost nailed my concerns.

Viney is a hack with his skills, but even he occasionally kicks on his right. And many, including Bontempelli are proficient. I've never seen Langford even attempt to use it.

He needs to improve his gound balls.

You got the contested marking right.

Plus, he's not as hard at the footy as I expected. Lindsay is far harder at the ball than Langford.

Cue the nuffies on here.

Everything you’ve listed would be concerning if he were in year 5, but he’s just finished year 1, he’s 19 😂 All the time in the world

i know it's almost sacrilege to say this, but the thing that excites me most about langford is that i think in the long run lindsay will be the superior player

getting the two Ls in the 2024 draft is going to be a big W

There's a lot of assumption Langford will move into the midfield but should he?

Playing him on the wing this season was an excellent move; allowed him to use his strengths (decision making & ball use) and mitigate his weaknesses (speed, left-sidedness).

To me, his marking game was inconsistent but showed potential. Will almost certainly improve.

A wingman with composure and class who can take contested marks and kick goals is highly valuable.

I'm more interested in seeing someone developed in the midfield like Windsor - who attacks the ball at pace - especially if he can re-find his kicking skills we saw in 2024.

47 minutes ago, Gator said:

You've almost nailed my concerns.

Viney is a hack with his skills, but even he occasionally kicks on his right. And many, including Bontempelli are proficient. I've never seen Langford even attempt to use it.

He needs to improve his gound balls.

You got the contested marking right.

Plus, he's not as hard at the footy as I expected. Lindsay is far harder at the ball than Langford.

Cue the nuffies on here.

I agree I thought he’d be a hard nut but I think he is just smarter than the average bear and can get away with it. Unlike someone like Viney who has based his entire game and being harder than everyone else. I think he will get better at that as he develops so I am not that concerned.

Becoming a better handballer on both sides and developing a right foot kick he can use in games are also on the list.

Everything else should come with time and development.

1 hour ago, Gator said:

Plus, he's not as hard at the footy as I expected. Lindsay is far harder at the ball than Langford.

True, but they're different players that bring different skills, so it doesn't worry me.

1 hour ago, Gator said:

Cue the nuffies on here.

Hi.

1 hour ago, KozzyCan said:

Pace is overrated. You get speed through fast ball movement which comes from running patterns and ball use.

True.

I also think he's quick enough. He just takes a long time to hit full speed.

1 minute ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

True.

I also think he's quick enough. He just takes a long time to hit full speed.

His 20m sprints from his draft combine were about the same as Cripps and Bont back in the day. It's a non-issue afaic.

I see Langford a lot differently to most on here. We can all agree he’s had a very good first year and has scope to become a great player in time.

He’s already shown in one on one contests his ability to position his body should make him a weapon in the air.

I also don’t see his lack of pace limiting him too much. He’s already made a couple of run down tackles on fairly quick opponents and isn’t slow to the point he can just get run around. Plenty of guns in the comp are a similar pace. He’s also spent good time on the wing and shown capability to cover the ground and support in defence and attack. He’s also got great goal sense which is hard to teach.

At times some of his ground ball gets are Oliver-esque. He’s not fumbly and that more than compensates for any slight lack of pace.

Areas for improvement I see:

Whilst he definitely has shown he sees the play unfold well when he has time and space (often makes great decisions after taking a mark), under pressure he blindly handballs too much and sometimes he bangs long when he probably has more time than he thinks.

He’s spilt a few marks throughout the year where he’s done the hard work to get into good position. From what I’ve seen it’s generally when he has had a clear run at the ball but does receive some body contact.

It’s really not unexpected that a 19 year old has these areas for improvement. Decision making under pressure and marking while under body pressure typically improve with experience and strength but he’ll definitely need to improve his distribution while under the pump if he wants to be an elite midfielder. In the short to mid term I see him being most effective on the wing rotating forward on occasion.

Very quickly on Lindsay - jury still out based on lack of exposure and the lack of a preseason but he is harder at the ball than I expected. On the flip side I think his kicking, while nice looking from a technique perspective, was mostly wasteful. Again like Langford, I’m hoping this improves as he adjusts to AFL pressure. They both look like they have the tools to succeed.