EFL: Heathmont signs Montrose 200-gamer Matt Langdon
A Montrose premiership player of more than 200 games’ experience has landed at Division 2 club Heathmont, among a host of re-signings for the club. Meanwhile, the door remains ajar for former star names to make a return...
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Heathmont has unveiled its first key recruit in preparation for season 2021, with a 200-game, former Premier Division defender signing on.
Montrose half-back Matt Langdon has landed at the Jets and is slated for a role in the club’s back six and midfield, after it finished in fourth position to contest the Division 2 finals last season.
Langdon played in Montrose’s 2013 Division 2 premiership side before featuring in the league’s top-flight for the past six seasons.
Heathmont coach Nick Rutley said an existing connection through current Jet Jake Sheriff helped land the experienced Langdon.
“I think he complements us really well and he’s an experienced head who has come from a footy club who has done and lived what we’re about to do with a new facility,” Rutley said. “Montrose had good juniors and a good young list, and Matty was part of that obviously – he’s a ripping fella.
“Premier Division bats deep talent-wise, and he’s been playing on some of the better forwards or resting mids in the comp the last three or four years … I think he’s still got really good footy in him.
“He’s not coming back to wither away, he’s coming back because he wants to win and we’re in a position to have some success.”
Rutley said Langdon’s experience would complement the club’s up-and-coming players.
“I want to be able to get him to be able to work with not just all the teammates but predominantly the younger guys that need to be shown the way a little bit by our senior heads, and he’ll fit the mould pretty well I reckon,” he said.
The Jets added former Eastern Ranges pair Joel Burleigh who returned after a season with South Croydon and Caleb Quirk from Upper Ferntree Gully late last year, along with ruckman Jake Styles from Norwood. All were set to play in 2020 before the season shutdown but the trio has recommitted for 2021 and further recruits are said to be in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, six-time Vermont premiership player Andrew ‘Gas’ Smith will again serve as senior assistant coach.
Star midfielders Brent English and Murphy Ambrose retired following season 2019, as well as Team of the Year defender Matt Decler.
But Rutley hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the retirees returning to the park in 2021.
“We’re going to leave the door ajar and see how they’re feeling in the new year,” he said.
“We haven’t been wanting to put pressure on to sign this year.
“At the current state, they’ve retired, but that could change next year – they’ve pretty much said put a line through us, and then if we’re feeling it next year we’ll probably turn up.”
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