Fremantle midfielder Ed Langdon settles on Melbourne as his club of choice ahead of trade move

Melbourne has won the race for talented Fremantle midfielder Ed Langdon, who jetted into Victoria on Monday to ramp up talks ahead of a switch to the Demons.

Ed Langdon will join Melbourne via a trade after five seasons at Fremantle. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Melbourne has won the race for Ed Langdon, with the Fremantle speedster committed to joining the Demons.

Langdon jetted in to Melbourne on Monday, skipping the Dockers’ mad Monday celebrations to ramp up talks on his future.

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The Demons have picks 2, 20 and 38 in November’s national draft, but the Demons would be happy to split that first selection (No. 2) into multiple later picks, particularly if Gold Coast are given a priority pick.

Victorian Langdon, 23, will arrive after five seasons at Fremantle having developed into a hard-running, long-kicking midfielder.

He enjoyed the best season of his career in 2019, averaging 86 ranking points for the Dockers and finishing with four stellar 100-ranking point games.

Ed Langdon will join Melbourne via a trade after five seasons at Fremantle. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

In Round 22 against Essendon he won a career high 37 possessions to go with 861m gained.

There has been conjecture about his kicking, but Langdon went at a respectable 68 per cent efficiency by foot this year, playing predominantly as a wingman.

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The Demons have long craved outside pace, but have been seemingly unwilling to play their best runners, Billy Stretch and Alex Neal-Bullen in those positions.

Last year, as brother Tom weighed up a massive contract offer from the Sydney Swans, Ed counselled him on top of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain.

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Langdon’s arrival will continue a massive summer overhaul for the Demons who have already moved on a battery of assistant coaches and support staff.

Nathan Jones is expected to step down as co-captain, paving the way for star ruckman Max Gawn to take the role.

New fitness guru Darren Burgess will attempt to transform the players’ fitness, with the Demons seen to be elite inside ball winners without wanting to run and spread from contests.