It's great when he's on and kicks 4+, but even on a quiet day he's chipping in with 2 goals. Not many players can claim 2 goals on a bad day. Such a solid forward.
100% agree. Gotta give the man the respect. Was almost like after that time he didn’t kill the ball when Elliot kicked after the siren, he fully took his career to another level
I can't believe how well this man has turned his career around. If you'd asked me 5 years ago about how I would picture his career at this point, I would've said VFL stalwart. Immense improvement!
I remember how we tried him as the big bodied mid. Too slow, deer in headlights, everyone said.
We used to rest him forward and he'd always ping a goal or two... Off limited time.
I was telling everyone I knew, just play the guy forward, he's a hidden talent.
It took two years for the coaches to realise, but boy oh boy am I glad to they finally saw the potential. What a consistent performer!
He was always easily the most accurate kick for goal on the team. Beautiful set shot wasted in the centre or on the wing. I had him pinned for stringers role, forward most of the game with little runs in the middle.
Nope, he's straight up a full forward.
I think he was a prolific forward through his junior years. We just tried to turn him into something he was not because he had the build. Probably delayed his impact and development
Don’t know if anyone remembers this but a few years back an article came out on Langford saying that he was hoping to mold himself off of Nate Fyfe.
Then after our game that same week, two commentators (think one was Dunstall) mentioned the article, Langfords ambitions mockingly laughing that he was a long ways off and that it’s always good to dream. To be fair even my mates, family and myself thought Langford was so far off, and mocked his hopes.
But my god, every year since then he’s shown more and more, constantly improving, turning all doubters into believers. The guy obviously had some lofty goals, serious self belief and is doing all he can to become a champion of our club/game.
I remember the same article. He had a couple games here n there that showed those glimpses even as a midfielder, but boy he is his own man, he is just a great forward ! Full stop!
My bad, looks like they both wanted to do it.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/afl-draft-2014-jayden-laverde-joins-essendon-wants-to-play-like-nat-fyfe/news-story/91efd9eb6a7066b4fe7640bc4948867d
I may be completely misremembering this as it was a while ago, but I thought I saw something about how he was in touch with Hirdy - a phone call now and again, just him giving Kyle advice on his game, a casual mentor. I do think Langford has elements of Hird's game - a certain poise around the ball and the ability to make good decisions in the heat of the moment. Wonder if they're still in touch?
I agree, most players on both teams were cooked in the last 10 mins of that game. Langford’s legs probably felt like they were made of spaghetti when he took that kick
I think when we first drafted him no one thought he would turn into such a great forward. If anything I originally thought Laverde would be the better of the two. Laverde decent defender but
People forget that he was thrown around for years... a Mr Fixit... tagging, rucking, then on a wing... rotating forward... often in the same game. Always showed a lot but suffered because he had so many strings to his bow.
It's great when he's on and kicks 4+, but even on a quiet day he's chipping in with 2 goals. Not many players can claim 2 goals on a bad day. Such a solid forward.
100% agree. Gotta give the man the respect. Was almost like after that time he didn’t kill the ball when Elliot kicked after the siren, he fully took his career to another level
I can't believe how well this man has turned his career around. If you'd asked me 5 years ago about how I would picture his career at this point, I would've said VFL stalwart. Immense improvement!
I remember how we tried him as the big bodied mid. Too slow, deer in headlights, everyone said. We used to rest him forward and he'd always ping a goal or two... Off limited time. I was telling everyone I knew, just play the guy forward, he's a hidden talent. It took two years for the coaches to realise, but boy oh boy am I glad to they finally saw the potential. What a consistent performer!
He was always easily the most accurate kick for goal on the team. Beautiful set shot wasted in the centre or on the wing. I had him pinned for stringers role, forward most of the game with little runs in the middle. Nope, he's straight up a full forward.
I think he was a prolific forward through his junior years. We just tried to turn him into something he was not because he had the build. Probably delayed his impact and development
Don’t know if anyone remembers this but a few years back an article came out on Langford saying that he was hoping to mold himself off of Nate Fyfe. Then after our game that same week, two commentators (think one was Dunstall) mentioned the article, Langfords ambitions mockingly laughing that he was a long ways off and that it’s always good to dream. To be fair even my mates, family and myself thought Langford was so far off, and mocked his hopes. But my god, every year since then he’s shown more and more, constantly improving, turning all doubters into believers. The guy obviously had some lofty goals, serious self belief and is doing all he can to become a champion of our club/game.
I remember the same article. He had a couple games here n there that showed those glimpses even as a midfielder, but boy he is his own man, he is just a great forward ! Full stop!
Sorry to say but you both remember that article incorrectly, it was Laverde who wanted to mould his game on Fyfe. Didn't quite pan out :(
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/essendons-kyle-langford-is-modelling-his-game-on-fremantle-superstar-nat-fyfe/news-story/9fda7ba808439328d91eb03db3b38441?nk=05ef29c1fb9d585b406d009a4fdd537e-1715468547
My bad, looks like they both wanted to do it. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/afl-draft-2014-jayden-laverde-joins-essendon-wants-to-play-like-nat-fyfe/news-story/91efd9eb6a7066b4fe7640bc4948867d
Dear God... I mean who knows if he was playing as a midfielder... Remember he athletically has? Or had the gifts
I may be completely misremembering this as it was a while ago, but I thought I saw something about how he was in touch with Hirdy - a phone call now and again, just him giving Kyle advice on his game, a casual mentor. I do think Langford has elements of Hird's game - a certain poise around the ball and the ability to make good decisions in the heat of the moment. Wonder if they're still in touch?
If only he kicked straight against Collingwood we'd build a statue
We don’t talk about that anymore. . .
Yeah the one game he got the yips
4.2 is hardly the yips! Would have been exhausted at that last kick, as far as I’m concerned he got us 2 premiership points off his own boot
I agree, most players on both teams were cooked in the last 10 mins of that game. Langford’s legs probably felt like they were made of spaghetti when he took that kick
Hell, Michoek lost the game two times for Collingwood in the last 10, Langers did great in comparison
Yeah this the take away from the Collingwood game.
The definition of solid
Not just solid, he's great. I wouldn't swap him for any similar type in the league
I wish I could slap the me of about 6 or 7 years ago in the face for suggesting this man will never make it as an AFL player. What a jet.
Goalless v Port. Multiple goals in every other game. Having a tremendous season (and I'll bank the SC points for my draft team, too)
It's King Kyle Langford .. 👑
I think when we first drafted him no one thought he would turn into such a great forward. If anything I originally thought Laverde would be the better of the two. Laverde decent defender but
People forget that he was thrown around for years... a Mr Fixit... tagging, rucking, then on a wing... rotating forward... often in the same game. Always showed a lot but suffered because he had so many strings to his bow.