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"Star in the making": Young Demon emerging as top Rising Star contender
Jaiden Sciberras • May 11th, 2025 2:55 pm
Melbourne’s lunge into form was cut short on Saturday, falling late against Hawthorn to cut their win streak at just three games.
Although the 35-point margin suggests a comfortable victory for the Hawks, the Demons were well and truly in the contest, drawing level a matter of minutes into the fourth quarter before Hawthorn piled on six majors to ice the game.
Amongst the best for Melbourne was rookie Harvey Langford, playing arguably the best of his eight-game career thus far. Playing off the wing, Langford starred throughout the contest, racking up 22 disposals and kicking three vital goals to keep the Dees within touching distance across the course of the day.
Within a hotly contested Rising Star race as the likes of Sam Lalor, Murphy Reid, Levi Ashcroft and Connor O’Sullivan continuing to plead their cases, AFL.com.au journalist and SEN regular Josh Gabelich believes Langford’s performances will have him in good stead for the highly coveted award.
“Harvey Langford showed why he is one of the leading contenders (for the Rising Star award) right now,” Gabelich told SEN’s Crunch Time.
“I reckon he’s had four or five really high-end performances across his first seven or eight.
“Three goals yesterday, three really important goals at different times to keep them in the game, 22 touches off the wing.
“He looks like he’s already played 100 games, and he’s played eight. I think he’s a star in the making.
“(Taken at) Pick 6, got to nail your top 10 picks and Melbourne looked like they nailed one in Harvey Langford.”
On the season, the 19-year-old is averaging 18.8 disposals and just under three clearances per game, booting seven goals across is first eight games.
The Dees will look to bounce back in Round 10 as they head north to take on the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
