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Ed Langdon the (Inside) Midfielder

adonski
adonski
in Melbourne Demons

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It comes as the 2021 premiers prepare to inject wingman Ed Langdon into the onball mix in one of the biggest surprise positional shifts of the summer.

The Herald Sun can reveal Langdon, 29, has impressed in his onball trial over summer and is set to add extra running power and balance in the engine room alongside playmaker Trent Rivers, 23.

Goodwin said Langdon’s onball move had been a “gold nugget” this pre-season, but moved to ease expectations on Oliver early this season after hand and hamstring problems last year.

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      On 09/02/2025 at 05:28, adonski said:

    It comes as the 2021 premiers prepare to inject wingman Ed Langdon into the onball mix in one of the biggest surprise positional shifts of the summer.

    The Herald Sun can reveal Langdon, 29, has impressed in his onball trial over summer and is set to add extra running power and balance in the engine room alongside playmaker Trent Rivers, 23.

    Goodwin said Langdon’s onball move had been a “gold nugget” this pre-season, but moved to ease expectations on Oliver early this season after hand and hamstring problems last year.

    This probably makes sense and will give us some more run and possibly speed through the midfield if Langers can adjust to that role when the real stuff starts.

    It also suggests to me at least they have another mix of wingers to take on 2025 given Windsor seems destined to go to HBF. I assume that includes Sharp, Lindsay, Howes, Laurie, Billings

     

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    it would seem that those wings / half forwards - langdon, billings, sparrow, sharp, tholstrup, laurie, lindsay, and langford to a lesser extent (primarily as he seems primed to be an inside mid regardless) - will all rotate inside in 2025

    the more options we have the better

    Edited by whatwhat say what

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      On 09/02/2025 at 07:18, whatwhat say what said:

    it would seem that those wings / half forwards - langdon, billings, sparrow, sharp, tholstrup, laurie, lindsay, and langford to a lesser extent (primarily as he seems primed to be an inside mid regardless) - will all rotate inside in 2025

    the more options we have the better

    It's actually the 1 area of the ground i think we are short on for depth especially experienced depth 

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    Oh caaarryyst save me! Our two Strengths last year were Langdon and Windsor on wings now we want to stuuff around with two WINNERS playing in other positions!?? PARK ME Barrassi cost Flower a Brownlow playing him of half back for negligeble benefit, have we not learnt!??

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    If the move happens, I doubt we'll see Langdon on the field 100% of the time. Surely his light frame isn't suitable for the role suggested?

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    The article also mentions that Max Viney is helping all players with tackling technique this year... Jiu Jitsu and grappling

    Jack has transformed his tackling from multiple suspensions into a wonderful "drag the to the ground locking one arm up as he does it technique".
    Kosi has really pulled back on his aggression. The last suspension was ridiculous as Moore slid low with his legs.
    I reckon this will be awesome for Kosi and the whole team.

    Absolutely stoked and I don't understand why it hasn't been done sooner.

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      On 09/02/2025 at 10:00, DemonicFinalFantasy said:

    If the move happens, I doubt we'll see Langdon on the field 100% of the time. Surely his light frame isn't suitable for the role suggested?

    Outside mids who can run all day are worth the weight in gold. Yes Langdon and Windsor were awesome on wings but I don’t see any Silverware from last year. I’m all for changing it up if it makes us better. There’s better judges than me. 

     

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      On 09/02/2025 at 05:28, adonski said:

    It comes as the 2021 premiers prepare to inject wingman Ed Langdon into the onball mix in one of the biggest surprise positional shifts of the summer.

    The Herald Sun can reveal Langdon, 29, has impressed in his onball trial over summer and is set to add extra running power and balance in the engine room alongside playmaker Trent Rivers, 23.

    Goodwin said Langdon’s onball move had been a “gold nugget” this pre-season, but moved to ease expectations on Oliver early this season after hand and hamstring problems last year.

    Hey Jay, you forgot to mention a few other things happening to Oliver, like kicking in the hand picking up the ball, and various types of punches to the lower body, carried out by opposition that would have stopped lesser folks, but so what. Punching and kicking are part of weasels repertoires. 

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      On 09/02/2025 at 09:17, picket fence said:

    Oh caaarryyst save me! Our two Strengths last year were Langdon and Windsor on wings now we want to stuuff around with two WINNERS playing in other positions!?? PARK ME Barrassi cost Flower a Brownlow playing him of half back for negligeble benefit, have we not learnt!??

    Straight out of the Demonland playbook:

    Demonland: Goodwin's stubborn, he doesn't try different things.

    Goodwin tries different things.

    Demonland: Not like that.

     

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    Playing the wing (aka boundary) is old school.

    Definitely time to play the angles. Corridor is turn over territory. Quick movement on angles of 45 degrees plus is where it's at

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    Starting to build the engine room back up again and the much vaunted bermuda triangle in defence is back in tact.

    Great vibes about the club this pre season.

    Any positional move that can add something to the team im in favour of.

    It feels like the end to last season has finally made the penny drop to promote a pre season of reflection and change.

    As supporters you would have to be happy with what's coming out of the club.

    But the proof will be in the pudding.

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    Centre bounce I'm still a bit dubious on but his pace could be useful there if he can hold up in contested footy, I think it will be more rotating in as a high half forward when Tracc or Kossie go forward.

    if you want run and carry and quick kicks through the corridor you need midfielders who have big tanks and keep presenting for the mark or handball options.

    It's absolutely worth trying.

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      On 09/02/2025 at 09:17, picket fence said:

    Oh caaarryyst save me! Our two Strengths last year were Langdon and Windsor on wings now we want to stuuff around with two WINNERS playing in other positions!?? PARK ME Barrassi cost Flower a Brownlow playing him of half back for negligeble benefit, have we not learnt!??

    The positional changes are really nothing more than starting points.  In the match simulations I've seen Langdon has been everywhere, i.e. centre, back pocket, wing, forward pocket.  He's been relishing the freedom to link up all over the ground.  And he's been a revelation in this role.  He and Pickett are providing some welcome fast feet around the ball.

    It's similar with Windsor.  Plenty of attacking thrusts start across half-back and having Windsor in the thick of it and breaking lines is worth a try.  He'll still be running through the wings and centre.

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      On 09/02/2025 at 21:16, The end is nigh said:

    My guess is they are really impressed with both Sharp and Lindsay

    This is how I'm half looking at it as well.

    I think they really want to utilise Sharps elite endurance and turn him into another Ed Langdon.

     

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      On 09/02/2025 at 21:53, whatwhat say what said:

    the more options we have to transition the ball at speed into the forward 50, the better

    At speed is the key.

     Goody didn't invent defnsive zoning, but he arguably perfected it.

    Now all teams, bar port (which is bizarre) zone super well.

    Most (all?) team's defensive lines push up high now.

    But still zone (getting back hard after turnovers) - meaning forward lines are often clagged up and have no space.

    Fast ball movement from the back half is the only way to beat the zone.

    I think that's the key reason Windsor will play off the half back

    We have to get that right. If we do JVR, Turner, Fritter and Jefferson (assuming he gets selected in the ines), will get good looks and some space to lead into.

    All are good one on one too and will get more one out opportunities.

    Our kicking still worries me. 

    It's not as if every player has to be elite kicks - every team has their butchers. And even the best kicks miss plenty of targets.

    But the players who are frequently involved in transition chains need to  reliably hit targets otherwise teams,  as happened to us last season, get smashed on turnover.

    I think a key factor this season is whether Salem and Bowey play most games. Mcvee is also key and Billings might also be important.

    And hopefully spargs can get back into the team (we really missed him last year I reckon).

    I wonder if part of the thinking of langers playing as a mid and half forward is his kicking.

    Wingers play an important role in transitioning the bal from the back half and the last kick inside 50.

    Whilst langers running power and smarts makes him one of the best wingers in the AFL, his kicking, which admittedley has improved, is still very hit and miss. Moving him off the wing means they can use better kicks on the wing, say Billings and XL

     

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      On 09/02/2025 at 22:26, binman said:

    At speed is the key.

    <snip>

    Our kicking still worries me. 

    <snip>

    I think a key factor this season is whether Salem and Bowey play most games. Mcvee is also key and Billings might also be important.

    And hopefully spargs can get back into the team (we really missed him last year I reckon).

    I wonder if part of the thinking of langers playing as a mid and half forward is his kicking.

    all of this

    avg kicks i50 are less of a concern if the ball is coming in at speed, as there should - theoretically - be more space for targets to move in the f50 and find space accordingly

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      On 09/02/2025 at 21:16, The end is nigh said:

    My guess is they are really impressed with both Sharp and Lindsay

     

      On 09/02/2025 at 21:35, dazzledavey36 said:

    This is how I'm half looking at it as well.

    I think they really want to utilise Sharps elite endurance and turn him into another Ed Langdon.

     

    Bang on - I've only been to a couple of trainings this summer, but Sharp has really stood out - which surprised me. In that number 30, he already looks like a ready made ANB replacement: he certainly seems to have Nibbler's tenacity and endurance but arguably a better kick?

    I like Langdon in the middle - he's deceptively hard at it, and the extra speed out of the contest will be handy.

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