With the 2014 season now complete, hawthornfc.com.au will review the season of those who played a senior game for the Hawks in 2014 with the help of GM - Football Operations, Chris Fagan.
 

After playing just one game in his debut season last year, Will Langford exploded onto the AFL scene season in 2014.

Relatively unknown by opposition supporters heading into this year, Langford is now a household name having excelled in big games and particularly during the finals series.

He stepped out of the shadow of his father, Hawks great Chris Langford, to write his own history in 2014 by becoming a Hawthorn premiership player and one of the most exciting prospects of the future.

With Alastair Clarkson looking to inject young blood into his star-studded and experienced midfield, Langford took the opportunity with both hands early but as his form tapered, faced some challenges.

In life and in football, it’s the way you face your obstacles that determines your standing and for Langford, he proved himself to be a driven and determined individual who doesn’t let anything stand in his way.

Langford’s finish to the year was incredible, playing 10 consecutive games from Round 17 after a five-week stint in the VFL.

In hindsight, it was that sabbatical that probably turned Langford’s season around and flicked a switch in him to do everything he could to make an impact and achieve what he’s dreamed of since he was a boy – a premiership with Hawthorn.

While Langford was impressive as a tagger and a midfielder in his opening nine games of the season, playing on some of the game’s elite midfielders like Gary Ablett, he raised his level significantly in that role in his last 10 matches.

He became a more damaging midfield and clearance player, with his attack and speed through that area adding another weapon to the already impressive arsenal at Clarkson’s disposal.

Langford averaged 21.3 disposals, 5.3 clearances and 4.8 tackles from Round 17, up from 16.8 disposals, 4.6 tackles and 3.6 clearances between rounds 1 and 11.

He also became damaging forward of centre in the second half of the year, adding seven goals compared to two earlier in the year.

His breakout game was that memorable performance against Geelong in Round 22, when he had 23 disposals and kicked two critical goals to hand the Hawks momentum heading into the gripping last quarter.

It was on the back of Langford’s influence alongside guns like Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell that helped the Hawks overturn a six-goal deficit to run away with the victory.

But he also produced two of his best games in the final two weeks, in the Preliminary and Grand Finals.

Playing as a tagger on Travis Boak, Langford restricted the gun Power midfielder then hurt him the other way by amassing a career-high 29 disposals and 10 clearances as well as kicking a goal.

Then, there was that performance in the Grand Final that made everyone stand up and take notice as he gathered 21 disposals, laid six tackles and kicked three brilliant goals in the premiership win.

Langford finished the year as one of Hawthorn’s most damaging midfielders, an amazing feat given the names like Lewis, Mitchell, Hodge, Burgoyne that roll through the middle.

He was ranked second for total clearances (4.6 average), third for contested possessions (10.4 of his average 19.2 were contested), fourth for centre clearances (1.3) and fifth for tackles (4.7).

2014 was a glimpse of what he’s capable of and luckily for Hawthorn, he’s sticking around for more of the same having signed a contract extension earlier this year.
 

What GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said: “He became the “energizer” of the team during the finals series.

“His football improved so much this year – he was in the team early in the year and did some good jobs but he found himself dropped and we asked him to improve elements of his game.

“He did that and in a short amount of time came back into the team and never looked back. He was able to tag, go to half-back, go to half forward, he was able to win the ball in his own right as a midfielder and also hit the scoreboard.

“All those things just gave the team so much energy in the latter part of the year.

“It was great too, that he was able to follow in the tradition of his dad and be a premiership player at Hawthorn. Seeing them together in the rooms after our Grand Final victory was a memorable moment.”

Will Langford in the news in 2014
- Langford re-sings with the club he loves
- Langford makes his mark
- Langford keeping the pressure off

Videos featuring Will Langford in 2014
- Langford speaks after the premiership
- Langford speaks after the Geelong game
- #everymoment: Langford