I have been to a number of training sessions during the off season, and the one player who impresses me is Langford.

Normally you cannot expect much of a first year player, they don’t have the body, are overwhelmed by where they are, and take a good amount of time to “learn the ropes”.  
Not with this kid

He has the body, and is already mixing it with the mids. He knows what to do to get the ball, and most importantly knows what he is going to do with it, and where it is going, before he gets possession. He has similar vision to Oliver. 
He may not be given a shot early on, but it won’t be long until he is mixing it with the best. 

  On 15/01/2025 at 20:40, george_on_the_outer said:

I have been to a number of training sessions during the off season, and the one player who impresses me is Langford.

Normally you cannot expect much of a first year player, they don’t have the body, are overwhelmed by where they are, and take a good amount of time to “learn the ropes”.  
Not with this kid

He has the body, and is already mixing it with the mids. He knows what to do to get the ball, and most importantly knows what he is going to do with it, and where it is going, before he gets possession. He has similar vision to Oliver. 
He may not be given a shot early on, but it won’t be long until he is mixing it with the best. 

Great to hear.

I’ve got a feeling he will be there round 1… at least I hope.

Looks an absolute jet.

  On 15/01/2025 at 20:40, george_on_the_outer said:

I have been to a number of training sessions during the off season, and the one player who impresses me is Langford.

Normally you cannot expect much of a first year player, they don’t have the body, are overwhelmed by where they are, and take a good amount of time to “learn the ropes”.  
Not with this kid

He has the body, and is already mixing it with the mids. He knows what to do to get the ball, and most importantly knows what he is going to do with it, and where it is going, before he gets possession. He has similar vision to Oliver. 
He may not be given a shot early on, but it won’t be long until he is mixing it with the best. 

Agree George.

And the other thing he seems to have is an elite focus and mindset - attributes that will help ensure he does everything in his power to achieve his potential.

No coincidence XL seems to have the same ulra professional mindset as Taylor puts a premium on it.

I'd be very surprised if Langford,  barring injury, isn't in our round one team - he's the very definition of a plug and play, AFL ready draftee.

The exciting thing is unlike some such players (eg wines, Horne- Francis and even Harley Reid) he's still got plenty of scope for improvement, in large part because he'll continue to fill out and get taller over the next 2-3 years.

  On 14/01/2025 at 23:51, waynewussell said:

Just had a word to Choco about the train on player who out pointed Sestan. He said he was on the NGA list and was our first choice if we have one. I was so stoked to be talking to the great man, I forgot the name of the player!

Highly touted for next years draft!

  On 15/01/2025 at 22:24, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Highly touted for next years draft!

Imagine adding Kalani White and Toby Sinnema to Langford, Lindsay, Windsor and Tholstrup the last 2 years....

Love that the wider AFL are sleeping on the fact we have elite young talent on every line.

Under 24s who could already be best 22: JVR, Turner, Bowey, McVee, Langford, Tholstrup, Windsor, Lindsay, Pickett & Rivers 

  On 15/01/2025 at 20:40, george_on_the_outer said:

I have been to a number of training sessions during the off season, and the one player who impresses me is Langford.

Normally you cannot expect much of a first year player, they don’t have the body, are overwhelmed by where they are, and take a good amount of time to “learn the ropes”.  
Not with this kid

He has the body, and is already mixing it with the mids. He knows what to do to get the ball, and most importantly knows what he is going to do with it, and where it is going, before he gets possession. He has similar vision to Oliver. 
He may not be given a shot early on, but it won’t be long until he is mixing it with the best. 

He is in my round 1 team along with Sharp, Jeffo ( pending recovery) and Campbell!

  On 15/01/2025 at 22:38, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Imagine adding Kalani White and Toby Sinnema to Langford, Lindsay, Windsor and Tholstrup the last 2 years....

Love that the wider AFL are sleeping on the fact we have elite young talent on every line.

Under 24s who could already be best 22: JVR, Turner, Bowey, McVee, Langford, Tholstrup, Windsor, Lindsay, Pickett & Rivers 

Um, you missed one!

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:11, picket fence said:

Um, you missed one!

Jeffo?!?!

  On 15/01/2025 at 21:18, binman said:

The exciting thing is unlike some such players (eg wines, Horne- Francis and even Harley Reid) he's still got plenty of scope for improvement, in large part because he'll continue to fill out and get taller over the next 2-3 years.

Filling out I agree with but taller ??

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:14, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Jeffo?!?!

Nailed it!

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:22, deelusions from afar said:

Filling out I agree with but taller ??

Not impossible... but unlikely he gets much taller than 191cm

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:14, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Jeffo?!?!

Nailed it!

  On 15/01/2025 at 07:37, BLWNBA said:

I found from what I saw, that it was largely more of the same with a large amount of, frankly, poor exits/entries resulting in turnovers, either by way of over handling the ball on the transition, or just dumping the ball high which allowed a defender to take an easy mark or make a spoil. 

Train how you play.

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:26, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Not impossible... but unlikely he gets much taller than 191cm

Jeffo is taller than 191cm is 195 isn’t he or 193 at least. ?? 

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:43, 58er said:

Jeffo is taller than 191cm is 195 isn’t he or 193 at least. ?? 

That was about Langford

I think Jeffo is actually 197cm according to previous posts by Ghostwriter.

Edited January 15Jan 15 by DistrACTION Jackson

  On 15/01/2025 at 22:24, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Highly touted for next years draft!

This is the kid I’m referring too who started training with us this week Ala Langford LY.

He’d be one the track watchers couldn’t identify I’d guess. 
 

Noah Gibbens-Hargreaves

 

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:43, 58er said:

Jeffo is taller than 191cm is 195 isn’t he or 193 at least. ?? 

Sorry Jackson did you mean Langford??  Yes might grow a bit but no guarantees. Looks as though he marks tall sometimes though. 

This is what Goodwin had to say about Langford a couple of weeks ago (apologies for the shoutie font size). I am a bit surprised for two reasons

One he directly compares Harvey’s power and contest work to when Oliver and Petracca came in. Can you think of any higher praise for a new midfielder?

Two. When have you ever heard Goodwin talk so highly of a recruit? Normally it’s is “yes he is meeting his markers but we are taking things slowly”. “We think he will have a bright future if he blah, blah, blah”. None of that here, just genuine excitement. Assuming he remains injury free I think you can mark him down for a round one debut

“Harvey's come in and hasn't missed a beat,” coach Simon Goodwin said.

“Some of the things he's done at training so far, you just go wow.

“He reminds you of some of the power and contest areas that when Clayton first started and Christian, when they first came in

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:22, deelusions from afar said:

Filling out I agree with but taller ??

Yeah, i reckon he'll almost certainly get taller.

He's 191 cms atm, which is pretty bloody tall. Talls always grow a bit after being drafted.

As an example, Bont, a player Langford has many similarities with, is now 194 cms. Admittedly he was younger than Langford when drafted, but like Langford Bont was 191 cms when drafted.

By the by i got that info from this draft profile - makes for interesting reading, particularly in terms of the similarities to Langford's draft profile. 

2013 Draft Profile: Marcus Bontempelli - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Edited January 16Jan 16 by binman

  On 16/01/2025 at 01:04, Robbie02 said:

This is what Goodwin had to say about Langford a couple of weeks ago (apologies for the shoutie font size). I am a bit surprised for two reasons

One he directly compares Harvey’s power and contest work to when Oliver and Petracca came in. Can you think of any higher praise for a new midfielder?

Two. When have you ever heard Goodwin talk so highly of a recruit? Normally it’s is “yes he is meeting his markers but we are taking things slowly”. “We think he will have a bright future if he blah, blah, blah”. None of that here, just genuine excitement. Assuming he remains injury free I think you can mark him down for a round one debut

“Harvey's come in and hasn't missed a beat,” coach Simon Goodwin said.

“Some of the things he's done at training so far, you just go wow.

“He reminds you of some of the power and contest areas that when Clayton first started and Christian, when they first came in

I like what I read, but it doesn't necessarily mean he'll be ready for round 1. For a start, those words don't tell us whether he's fit enough, whether he understands the gameplan, or whether he understands the role Goodwin wants him to play.  Nevertheless, I'm optimistic about him and hope that he does well.

  On 15/01/2025 at 23:27, Bombay Airconditioning said:

If he wants to go why can’t he go to the Eagles? 

Because players get to club of choice. 

Not sure a small fwd, even as talented as Kozzie, is high on their shopping list just yet.  Warner is their top priority this year.

 

It is fair to say that since Bell left Freo seem more amicable traders.  If Kozzie goes we will get full value.  And given the draft pick landscape of the next few years our best chance of getting full value is 2025.  btw that isn't proposing we trade him - just outlining the practicalities.

Edited January 16Jan 16 by Lucifers Hero

  On 16/01/2025 at 02:28, Lucifers Hero said:

Because players get to club of choice. 

Not sure a small fwd, even as talented as Kozzie, is high on their shopping list just yet.  Warner is their top priority this year.

 

It is fair to say that since Bell left Freo seem more amicable traders.  If Kozzie goes we will get full value.  And given the draft pick landscape of the next few years our best chance of getting full value is 2025.  btw that isn't proposing we trade him - just outlining the practicalities.

I thought Warner was off to the Eagles?

Was Nibbler the only player ever to say “I want to go home, don’t care where just get a deal done”?

Also how come when you quoted me it changed thread?

Edited January 16Jan 16 by Bombay Airconditioning

  On 16/01/2025 at 03:30, Bombay Airconditioning said:

I thought Warner was off to the Eagles?

Was Nibbler the only player ever to say “I want to go home, don’t care where just get a deal done”?

Also how come when you quoted me it changed thread?

Role players like AnB can't be too picky with their club of choice unlike the A graders above

System is broken though, with contracted players nominating a club of choice

  On 16/01/2025 at 03:35, adonski said:

Role players like AnB can't be too picky with their club of choice unlike the A graders above

System is broken though, with contracted players nominating a club of choice

Agreed, I would prefer a system where you get sent wherever the club decides but that will never happen. The easy compromise is you can pick the state the club then gets the best deal for the club.

  On 16/01/2025 at 03:40, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Agreed, I would prefer a system where you get sent wherever the club decides but that will never happen. The easy compromise is you can pick the state the club then gets the best deal for the club.

I would like a system where contracts actually mean something.