Makeshift Forward Kyle Langford Scores Five Goals For Essendon

Essendon's makeshift forward, Kyle Langford, produced an incredible five goals in their 28-point win against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium.

Brad Scott described Langford as 'Mr Fix-It,' an adaptable player who thrived under responsibility as he led all goal kickers on the ground. Dylan Shiel (27 disposals, two goals) provided another key boost for the Bombers while Darcy Parish (30 disposals, 11 clearances) and Zach Merrett (31, four) helped propel them through midfield.

Goals

Langford rose to star in a pivotal forward role for the Bombers during their thrilling AFL victory against Gold Coast. He scored five goals in this pivotal role and was an important target on goal throughout the game.

One week after playing 25 in defence, Langford was utilized by Brad Scott as the ultimate utility player and seemed delighted in his new role. He ran crucial chains that enabled the Bombers to make a late comeback and secure victory.

He kicked a major in each quarter, including one that sent the Gold Coast inside 50. As their best forward with 5.2 from 14 disposals, he also contested and tackled well in an impressive performance that set up the win.

The Suns struggled to match Essendon's pace during stoppages and were frequently denied at crucial moments by midfielders Touk Miller (31 disposals) and Matt Rowell. The former was a force with his strong hands, while Rowell had an excellent game in his first game back from knee injury.

Gold Coast were relentless in their comeback attempt, changing the lead four times during a thrilling third term. Finally, Langford delivered an incredible soaring grab to secure victory in the final minute.

It was an outstanding victory for the Bombers, who remain undefeated after two weeks and sit atop of the ladder with three points. This set up an exciting clash against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium next Saturday night.

In the second term, the Bombers scored eight goals to two and were led by Jack Darling, Noah Long and Tom Papley. Jake Waterman had an outstanding game with 4.2 from 16 disposals while Cripps contributed with 3.2 from 17 in an impressive performance that saw him kick his first three goals of career.

The Eagles took control of the first quarter, outscoring their counterparts eight goals to three. Jack Darling scored two goals and Waterman added another with a great ruck tap; Cripps added three majors as play opened up.

Goal-kickers

Langford was an impressive force in the Bombers' AFL victory. He kicked five majors and recorded 27 disposals, helping his team comeback from a nine-point halftime deficit.

Despite being without four of their top goalkickers, the Bombers still had plenty of options to boot the ball. Nic Martin, who joined via pre-season supplemental period, showed his potential as a foil up forward with five goals and 27 touches.

He was well-supported by Darcy Parish (32 and one goal), Zach Merrett (28 and another goal) and Mason Redman (27) in an impressive showing. Although Wright dominated, many other players made crucial contributions as well.

Essendon's midfield was led by Darcy Parish, who recorded 32 touches and eight clearances. He was followed by Zach Merrett who scored 28 points and added two goals in his debut for the club.

The midfield is an essential aspect of any Australian Football team. Here, teams can get into a rhythm and build momentum, while providing balance between defence and attack during matches. It plays a significant role in setting up for success during these crucial moments.

Goal-kickers often find themselves in the middle of the field, where they have more chances to score. Additionally, this area allows you to blend into a team's backline and be effective on defense instead of just kicking goals.

Goal kickers often benefit from slower games in the first half, when many are taking advantage of slower ball movement to kick with speed. It provides them with an opportunity to capitalize on sloppy conditions and take advantage of slower game speeds.

Jack Hibberd, Sam Hooker and Lance Franklin are some of the Bombers' more dangerous goal-kickers. Hooker has scored 41 majors this year and can play both up front and in the backfield, while Hibberd is an excellent running defender with a great kick.

Goal-snappers

Makeshift forward Langford was a standout performer for the Bombers in their AFL win against Hawthorn, setting up several crucial goals and winning a fierce ruck battle with veteran Tom Bellchambers. It marked the first time any AFL top eight side had defeated them in their opening match of the season and marked an exciting new trend for the club.

Every team designates a spot on the 53-man roster for a long snapper, who is solely responsible for snapping the ball during field goals and extra points. Traditionally, backup tight ends or linebackers fill this role; however, its importance has grown in recent years as more teams rely on this position.

The snap itself consists of a quick release from the long snapper to either punter or field goal holder at an extended distance, depending on arm length and snapping style.

As a general guideline, the nose of the football should be aligned with your chin when taking the snap. This can usually be accomplished by turning slightly toward your dominant hand with either hand but can also be adjusted using one's wrist.

Snap size and style may vary, but a good one is fast and accurate. Ideally, the snap should take place within quarter of a second for field goals or extra points so the holder has time to catch and throw the ball back to the kicker before the play is called.

For an AFL team, long snapper is especially crucial as they are usually the only person on the ground to snap a goal or extra point during a given game. Furthermore, his job plays an integral role in every special teams battle of each game.

It's an unheralded position that's become increasingly important in recent years, as programs offer scholarships to players. Unfortunately, some teams have still been known for taking poor snaps in crucial situations in the past; as a result, teams have been penalized for botching their snaps in crucial situations.

Essendon’s ‘Mr Fix-It’

In 1999, Essendon made it to the top of the ladder and were on fire. They had won their previous season's minor premiership, faced off against Carlton in a qualifying final and then defeated Adelaide to advance to the preliminary final.

That was an encouraging start, but it wasn't to last and the Bombers found themselves struggling for form in midseason. A humiliating defeat against West Coast and a devastating loss against Sydney left them in seventeenth place on the ladder.

It didn't take the club long to build on their successes, however. They won five straight games and were only three points away from achieving victory until Fremantle knocked them out in the final round. Subsequently, they went on to win eight matches including a 9 point triumph against Sydney which allowed them to move into the top 8 and advance to the quarter finals where they were ultimately defeated by Melbourne by one point.

Due to these violations, the club was subjected to multiple investigations and suspensions. This included 34 two-year bans, a $2 million fine, as well as disqualification from the 2013 finals series (among other penalties).

The 2012 season proved to be another challenging one for the Bombers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to play a number of weakened teams and after falling to the Bulldogs in their opening game, they struggled to win any more matches throughout the remainder of the year.

In the following round, they struck back with a 13 point victory against St Kilda and an exciting single win against Carlton to move up to seventh. Unfortunately, one key player suffered an injury related to COVID-19 which saw them finish thirteenth on the ladder.

With several key injuries to their starting lineup, the Bombers turned to makeshift forward Langford who proved a valuable addition. The big man is an excellent goal-kicker with the knack for getting into rucks and finding space for his kicks. On Sunday afternoon at the MCG, Langford showed off his talent in impressive fashion; finishing with 5.2 from 14 disposals while also contributing significantly to ball use on the ground for his teammates.