Tom Langdon (OM 2012) achieved his “lifelong dream” to play in the AFL in 2014. There are those who would cite his subsequent 80 AFL games playing for Collingwood, including this year’s Grand Final, as a great accomplishment – and it is, but those who are fortunate to spend time with Tom may be even more impressed by his attitude and demeanour.
“I think you need to be consciously aware how incredible your job is every time you run out onto the field,” says Tom. “When it gets to the middle of a season and it’s been week after week of hard work, sometimes you can lose that. But you definitely need to have a bit of gratitude and be aware of what an amazing profession that you are in. I try to think about how lucky I am to be doing what I do in every single game.”
Tom was also a football coach at Melbourne Grammar School from 2013 until 2017. “I jumped at the chance to work with the boys coming through,” says Tom. “I mainly coached boys in Years 7 and 8. It was really enjoyable, plus it was a good way to give back to the coaches and other staff at Melbourne Grammar who had given me so much.”
One of the most important lessons I learnt at Melbourne Grammar was the need to be a respectful and caring person. This was instilled in me from the early years at Grimwade House, all the way through to the end of my time there,” says Tom. “In relation to football, I now look back and realise how much help and support I was given by staff while at the School. In particular, Michael Ford, one of the School’s football coaches, gave me belief in myself – an understanding that I could make it if I put the work in. I am really grateful for that.”
Tom believes that the most important part of an aspiring AFL player’s game should be enjoyment. “You have to love it because you have to work incredibly hard to get an opportunity to play at the top level,” says Tom. “You need a really strong work ethic. The coaches at Melbourne Grammar helped me understand that aspect.”
Tom’s brother, Edward Langdon (OM 2014), is also an AFL player, representing Fremantle FC.
“We are both massive support bases for each other and we try to help each other as much as possible,” says Tom. “We both understand how hard AFL football is. There is so much pressure on us every week. Although our teams compete, I don’t want to be too competitive with him. The reality is that we don’t know how long we’ll be in the game, and we want to enjoy our time there as much as possible.”
Tom recently returned to Wadhurst, giving a football masterclass to Year 7 and 8 footballers.
