Tom Langdon from the Collingwood Football Club is the Round Seven NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
Langdon, 19, was best on ground in the Magpies’ 34-point win against Carlton on Friday night.
Fielded in his now familiar role across half back, Langdon demonstrated poise and composure belying his years, routinely foiling the Blues with his innate ability to regularly intercept.
Collecting 23 disposals, including 10 contested possessions, and eight marks, Langdon once again demonstrated his penchant for the big stage, which began with his AFL debut in Round One.
The former Sandringham Dragon featured in all three pre-season games in February, with the ease of his transition to the elite level helping mount an irrepressible case for selection in the opening match of the season.
Langdon’s subsequent performances have proven sufficient reward for Collingwood’s show of faith, ranking eighth overall in the competition for intercept marks, and twelfth for rebound 50s.
Tom Langdon is available for interview tomorrow:
Tuesday May 6 at 11.30am
Westpac Centre
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he is impressed with Tom’s resilience.
“The last two weeks have been Tom’s best two games; to be as composed, improve as quickly and to show that sort of form is a credit to him. We have found a player who still has a lot to learn and will still have his ups and downs but is showing us he is capable of playing at the highest level.
“Tom was originally passed over in the 2012 draft giving him a resilience, a drive and a desire to embrace his opportunity and take it with both hands. Having played only seven games, he still has a long way to go in his football journey, but what we have seen so far has been very encouraging,” he said.
Tom was selection 65 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.
He was played junior football with the Glen Iris Gladiators before joining TAC Cup side the Sandringham Dragons. James represented Vic Metro in the 2012 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
After being overlooked in the 2012 Draft, he played senior football in the VFL with the Sandringham Zebras and attended the 2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine where he tested well.
Following each round of the home and away season, a panel of judges will select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. At the completion of the season, one of these nominees will be chosen as the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star.
The 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star winner will be awarded the Ron Evans Medal and a $20,000 personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of NAB.
NAB continues to grow the game by recognising the junior clubs that helped foster the early careers of the nominated players. Each of the 23 clubs will receive a NAB Club Recognition Award valued at $2,500, comprising financial and practical resources. Since supporting the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, NAB has donated over $660,000 worth of resources to junior football clubs through this initiative.
The NAB AFL Rising Star is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
- NAB AFL Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
- AFL National Academies
- NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
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