Lang still pressing his case
THE list of candidates is growing and second-year midfielder Darcy Lang, one of eight Cats waiting in the wings at VFL level, knows only too well that the task of returning to the AFL is becoming more difficult by the day.
“We’ve got a good team, so it’s hard to get a spot,” Lang said after Sunday’s win over Essendon in the VFL.
“But I’ve just got to keep doing everything right, and if an opportunity arises, I’ve got to grab it with both hands.”
Sam Menegola took his chance, locking in a regular spot in the AFL team after a string of eye-catching performances, while Scott Selwood appears to be the next cab off the rank despite injury.
That leaves Lang, George Horlin-Smith, Billie Smedts, Shane Kersten, Nakia Cockatoo, Jordan Murdoch and Nathan Vardy pressing for an unlikely AFL call-up.
But rather than wallow in self-pity, Lang has kept his team-first focus, believing the list’s strength will help the club in its quest for a flag double.
“Having that depth of players, it makes it harder for us guys on the fringe, but it’s healthy competition,” he said. “And that helps in being successful this year as well.”
Lang was again serviceable for the Cats on Sunday, booting two goals in a 22-disposal game.
He admitted he is honing his craft as an on-baller, while pressing forward to give Geelong another avenue in attack, where senior coach Chris Scott had played him for much of the season in the AFL.
“Since I’ve been back in the twos, I’ve played much more in the midfield to work on the contested side of things, but I’ve also spent a bit of time forward to work on my forward craft,” Lang said.
“I always prefer to be around the footy, but it’s whether I can get into the team. I’m happy to go up and play forward if I have to and play my role there.
“I just need to keep working on the little things — do the basics well and be clean with the ball.
“I know what my focus areas are at the moment and I just have to execute them the best I can in each game.”
After his team secured an elimination final clash against Essendon, the Cats’ VFL coach Shane O’Bree indicated that Lang was likely to be spending more time in the seconds.
“He’s just got to keep working on all aspects of his game,” O’Bree said.
“That’s what’s keeping him out of the team at the moment. He’s not ticking every box and he’s missing out.”
The Cats will meet the Bombers in a cut-throat final at North Port Oval on Saturday, having been denied a double chance when Footscray forced its way into the top four with an upset win over Collingwood.
But Lang said Geelong had only itself to blame.
“It was in our own hands, really,” he said. “Earlier in the year we lost a few and that put us behind the eight ball, but we’ve hit some good form over the last eight weeks.
“We’ve just got to continue to do what we do well and hopefully we can get a win.”