SAINTS GAIN IN YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE
ST MARY’S young gun Tom Lang says it’s the youth at the Saints that is driving the club to success.
The Saints have lost just one game this season to put themselves in second spot on the ladder, and Lang believes they’ve got what it takes to go all the way.
The 20-year-old credited coach Troy Mitchell for the way he has managed his young players, including himself.
“Troy plays me centre half-back and centre half-forward, so it’s good to try some new positions,” the quietly-spoken star said.
“I just like doing my job for the team — it’s good to know I can go forward or go back if I’m needed. I’m loving it.”
It’s been part of Mitchell’s job description this season, developing his side’s young brigade into versatile players that can continue to improve and take the team higher.
“It’s about him having different challenges,” Mitchell said.
“You learn a lot playing different positions and that can make you a better player in the position you go back to.
“It’s even working out what the best spot for Tom is too; he’s pretty adaptable too. He plays the same way wherever he plays — he attacks the ball, he wants to win the footy, so he’s pretty handy to have on your footy side.”
Lang earned himself selection in both the GFL interleague under-19 side and the Victoria Country under-19 team last year before receiv- ing an invite to train with Geelong’s VFL side over the pre-season.
While the key-position player hopes to reach the highest level of football he can, his focus is on helping his team win this year’s GFL flag.
“We can go all the way, definitely,” he said.
“Obviously Joeys are in pretty good form, but we’re a young side, we play a good brand of footy, so we can definitely make finals and go all the way.
“I reckon we’re playing pretty good footy at the moment. We’ve just got an easy brand of footy, an easy game plan, so if we stick to that it will hold us in good stead.
“Hopefully we get the double chance — and take it from there.”
Lang said the side’s youth was part of the reason the Saints were premiership contenders.
“We’ve just got to use our strengths; our run and carry,” he said.
“With the young side, most of us are pretty quick and like to take the game on, so that’s what we’ve got to do against the Joeys and the Bell Parks, basically break lines and kick goals. We’ve got a lot of young players that play on the wing and halfback and break the lines.”
Mitchell said Lang was one of a number of young players making an impact this season.
“Jack Blood, Pat Dowling, kids like that down at the VFL, we’ve also got the McMahon boys, all three of them; we’re trying to develop them in different positions and give them different opportunities,” he said.
“There’s a bit of plethora of them now at the moment at the footy club, so we’ve got to keep them interested and let them know the opportunities are there for them.”