Ed Langdon spoke up on behalf of the Melbourne playing group mid-week after the sacking of their coach Simon Goodwin, with comments making clear that the players had no problem with him and he hadn't "lost" them, as footy vernacular so often goes prior to events like this. Maybe that was part of the problem? The Demons are not that far removed from their flag run, but they still have old timers like Langdon on their list playing bit parts, with not enough responsibility given to younger conveyances to build the next Dee-nasty. Plus, that was a very silly hat.
Ed Langdon spoke up on behalf of the Melbourne playing group mid-week after the sacking of their coach Simon Goodwin, with comments making clear that the players had no problem with him and he hadn't "lost" them, as footy vernacular so often goes prior to events like this. Maybe that was part of the problem? The Demons are not that far removed from their flag run, but they still have old timers like Langdon on their list playing bit parts, with not enough responsibility given to younger conveyances to build the next Dee-nasty. Plus, that was a very silly hat.
Ed Langdon has lacked continuity this season due to injury, so he has an excuse, but the rest of the Melbourne defence has also lacked a floor on its performance with some good and some bad weeks. His tandem up the defensive spine with Steven May used to be the most dominant in the league, but as they aged (and perhaps fed each other too many fast food chips) they have lost a yard, and it has shown on the scoreboard. Younger conveyances like Harrison Petty and Daniel Turner will be the core of the next Demon flag tilt, leaving old stagers like Lever in neutral.
Ed Langdon crossed from Fremantle in the off season as the latest in a series of big signings by the Demons as they attempt to build a team capable of reaching the last game of the year. So far, like Adam Tomlinson on the opposite wing, he has underwhelmed. Melbourne has one of the best midfields in the comp on paper, especially when you look at their 2018 form line, but they haven't been able to string that kind of form together for a long while, and Langdon is one of a number of outside runners starved of opportunities.
Langdon takes long walk to G
An electric run and carry player capable of linking defence to attack, Ed Langdon arrives at Melbourne ready to provide a dimension the club has lacked. Following a breakout 2018 season, the ex-Docker lifted his disposal output once more, culminating in a 37-disposal effort against the Bombers in round 22. Langdon has been brought to the club to provide drive to the one-paced Demon midfield. A dominant ball winner across the past two years, take him in the latter mid rounds as even if you distrust some of the incumbent Melbourne midfielders to bounce back, Langdon should thrive with better supply.
WA's best new Langdon
For the first time in his career, Ed Langdon established himself as a regular in the senior lineup in season four. Bar a week out with illness, Langdon played every available match and will look back on 2018 as a legitimate breakout season. He found a consistent home across the wing and increased his stats in all areas, ranking fifth at the club for touches and sixth for marks. Langdon will hold down one of the wings and Bradley Hill will claim the other, so coaches can expect Langdon to at least replicate what he’s just produced. Unfortunately, without forward eligibility, Langdon loses a fair chunk of value. Still, solely as a midfielder, a pick in the later middle rounds is fair for this up and coming Docker.
Ed Langdon has quietly become an important fantasy asset, accumulating in impressive fashion off a HFF for Fremantle in games where they dominate and also ones where they lose. His disposal is not of elite enough quality for him to merit a tag quite yet, but it's volume where his value lies and his fantasy owners are getting a lot of enjoyment out of that situation. He deserves serious consideration in salary cap leagues as a contender for top six forwards.
Wing done for Langdon
Starting more on a wing than half forward in 2017, Ed Langdon's numbers shifted more to the outside with a best of 32 disposals against the Eagles in round 6. In round 9 he suffered a knee knock, and eventually tore a PCL in round 11 after some coach-admitted mismanagement. Taking out those two games, his fantasy average rose into startable range. There are two issues with Langdon, assuming that he comes through preseason unscathed as he should. First, he's playing for Fremantle, which is still a lowly club and he's a cream player who would benefit more from receiving from a dominant midfield. Second, he showed some worrying inconsistency, not the sort of thing that endears a player to fantasy coaches. A late pick only.
