RAPIDLY rising Demon Harvey Langford’s first year in football is on track to rival those produced by Viney, Petracca and Oliver in their own debut seasons.
The starting midfield trio that drove the Demons to the club’s drought-breaking 2021 flag all burst out of the blocks in their respective careers, and Langford’s numbers stack up so far.
Melbourne was thrilled the Mount Martha product was still on the draft board at their pick in November’s draft and his 18.3 disposals per game eclipse Viney and Petracca’s respective debut numbers and sits just a under a disposal short of the prolific Oliver.
Langford is living up to the hype in his first year in red and blue and the numbers have him right in the thick of the Rising Star chase.
The No. 6 selection in the 2024 draft sits second among first-year players for disposals per game, just shy of Brisbane’s Levi Ashcroft.
His goalkicking ability from the midfield has been a standout, highlighted by a 26 disposal, three goal performance against Hawthorn.
His seven goals are the most among first year players lining up predominantly in the middle third of the ground, with only Reid, Lalor, Davidson, Kako and Dudley managing more.
Brisbane magnet Ashcroft, second-year players Connor O’Sullivan and Archie Roberts and the goalkicking Murphy Reid provide Langford’s stiffest competition for the end of year prize.
Since starting the season as the sub and playing the following week in the VFL, Langford has been on a tear, and a hot run home could leave the Demon needing some extra room in his trophy cabinet.