LANGDON FINALLY FINDS MOTIVATION
MIDFIELDER Ed Langdon has admitted he struggled for motivation while at a battling Fremantle and moving to Melbourne has reignited his passion for the game.
Langdon will play in this weekend’s grand final against the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in just his second season at the Demons.
Recruited by the Dockers as pick 54 in the 2014 national draft, Langdon played only two games in his first season as Freo won the minor premiership and played in a preliminary final.
But after crashing down the ladder and starting a rebuild in 2016, Langdon’s next 12 matches were all losses. When Port Adelaide thrashed Fremantle by 89 points in round 2, 2017, Langdon had a 2-15 record at the elite level.
He said while the rebuild had initially been exciting given the Dockers were playing so many youngsters, the losses took their toll. Langdon said this season and preparing for a grand final with Melbourne had reminded him why he played.
“It certainly takes a toll on your motivations for football when you’re losing week-in, week out. It’s really tough. You do question why you are playing a lot of the time,” Langdon said. “You probably don’t know how much you enjoy it or play for winning until you have that experience.
“I was always motivated for success and team success but winning a premiership felt so distanced for a long time it was never a real goal of mine. But having played in two finals and being so close to it now, it is incredibly motivating.”
The Demons finished 17th the season before Langdon moved home to Victoria but the 25-year-old said he had confidence in Melbourne’s list given he’d played with or against so many of the squad as a junior. Langdon has used his time in Perth to reunite with his former Fremantle teammates and said the joy other people had experienced from watching him prepare for a grand final made the build up more special.
The star wingman found himself in the headlines last month after making comments about Ross Lyon’s aggressive coaching. But Langdon said the pair had spoken and he’d clarified what he meant.
“It wasn’t ideal but I did get to speak to Ross and clear the air,” Langdon said. “I have quite a good relationship with him, so I knew he would know what I meant by it. We laughed it off.”