#41,#8 Tom Langdon

[qldmagpie67]

[Raw Hammer]

If Langdon stops flying blindly into packs leaving his man on the ground then maybe I’ll soften my stance on him.

But his lack of ‘ruthless’ nature cost us the softest, most horrible goal to kick-start WCE in the GF, bookended by a lame attempt to smash a smaller opponent in a pac situation of the wing that led to the game winner. It’s these ‘mistakes’ that for mine, far outweigh the ‘good’.

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

Just looking back at what I wrote back in 2016 about Langdon. What I wrote is obviously wrong based on what you see of Langdon today. Difficult task looking at a young player (or in fact even a mature player) and extrapolating what that player will be like in 2-3 year's time. I remember when Malthouse recruited Leigh Brown and thinking Malthouse was crazy moving Leigh Brown into the forward line. When Buckley moved Crisp to the half back line I thought Buckley was crazy. When Buckley moved Keeffe to CHF in the Port Adelaide Elimination Final I thought that was a crazy move, then a couple of year's later when Keeffe was played in the forward line I actually thought it might work out. Even at times watching Jesse White played in any number of positions over the years, you get that vague feeling that there is some sense to it. Don't know where the coaches get their ideas from. All I know is I wouldn't want to be a coach.

[Pies2016]

Whether deserved or not, Langdon is always going to polarise supporters more than most.

“ Never judge a footballer until he’s played over 50 games “ is a great quote to live by if you want to reduce your embarrassment to a minimum.

Having said that, even coaches get them wrong. It’s just that they don’t usually put it in writing.

[K]

[Pies2016]

[inxs88]

[Pies4shaw]

Clement was a great player and I’m not going to get into dumb comparisons. I would, though, draw to your attention that Jimmy joined Collingwood after his 84th game. When he played his first game for the ‘Pies, he was 100 days older than Tom was in the 2018 Grand Final (his 80th game). We only saw Clement here in his prime.

[qldmagpie67]

Someone earlier asked the question
How does Langdon get so many uncontested marks or intercepts ?
Interesting question really
My ole mate P4S correctly stated he took a extraordinary amount of marks through the finals series mostly uncontested
So last night I sat down and watched the games against WC week 1 GWS week 2 and tigers week 3
These are my observations
Our defensive structure under Longmuir changed from a full team press up the field when not in possession to systematic cross between zone based and press
When we have the ball we hold 2 defenders back stopping the over the back goals this generally was Goldie and Maynard playing deep
Howe pushed up one wing Crisp to the other with there opponents looking for that hurried kick
Langdon covered the middle of the ground generally playing 1/2 a kick in front of his man
Langdon basically covered the back end of the square
If the ball went to either side he simply moved over towards that side more so lining up 1/2 a kick behind Howe or Crisp depending on which side it went to
Our midfield pressure up ground was very good through the finals and our opposition didn't deliver the ball well going forward allowing for many uncontested marks and intercept marks falling our way
I think it was a combination of a great game plan and executed well by the players that led to his stats
While his marks stats were great he had far more handballs than kicks still. He was often taking the mark and then looking to go by hand to another player running by or kick sideways to the open side to a player who worked back into space.
I'll tip my hat to him and all the defenders for making the system work it's only as good as its weakest link and they all did very well
We backed our upfield pressure to make the opposition not hit Langdons man out the back and the few times it did happen Maynard Goldie were still able to leave there man and go to the man with the ball
Langdon won't be at CHB this season so those stats will drop back dramatically
I think you will that loose role go to Moore now as he's a sensational mark and miles ahead on the kicking front
But it was a interesting watch to be honest looking for something different than just following the ball

[RudeBoy]

He reads the play better than anyone on our list.