William Langford Biography

Hawthorn select William Langford with pick No.49 in the 2018 Rookie Draft.

Hawthorn will re-draft retired Will Langford as a rookie as a means of honoring the final year of his contract.

Will Langford is delisted by Hawthorn despite a year still to run on his contract.

"At the end of the season, we sat down with Will to discuss his future," Hawthorn football manager Graham Wright said.

"Will made it clear that he wanted to be a one-club player and that if he wasn't playing for the Hawks then he would prefer to move on to the next chapter in his life."

"That being the case we reached a mutual decision to delist Will and we wish him all the best in life outside of football."

Will Langford makes an early return from the Hawks' New Zealand camp to have surgery on a ruptured tendon in his finger.

"Will won't be able to partake in the rest of the group's pre-season camp, however this is only a minor injury setback which shouldn't see him sidelined for too long," Hawks general manager of football Jason Burt said.

Jarrad McVeigh says he wasn't impressed with Will Langford kissing him during Hawthorn's upset win over the Swans at the MCG on Friday night.

The pair were engaged in several heated exchanges and on two separate occasions Langford planted a kiss on McVeigh's cheek.

In the initial instance just before half-time, an incensed McVeigh reacted by shoving the Hawk in the face and was penalised.

After McVeigh kicked a crucial goal early in the last quarter to bring the Swans back to within four points, Langford puckered up again.

Langford, who performed strongly for the winners, later made light of the situation.

"I'm always just talking to opposition players and try and keep it nice and lighthearted and have a bit of fun out there," Langford told Channel 7 post-match.

However, McVeigh wasn't laughing when asked about the final-term kiss, which was caught on camera.

"He did it beforehand as well, earlier on, and I probably reacted too much and gave away a free kick," McVeigh told Triple M.

"I'm not going to stand there and take that. I thought it was pretty disrespectful. But that's the way it is."

Hawthorn remains confident that Will Langford can rediscover his mojo up forward to ensure he is flexible enough to retain his spot when he returns to the seniors.

Langford, the revelation of the 2014 finals series, was able to complement his skill at winning the contested ball with goals at key moments, including three majors in that year's Grand Final.

However he has only managed seven goals in 23 AFL games since that career highlight and was omitted after Hawthorn defeated Essendon in round 12.

"We're a side that likes to run a lot of players through the middle of the ground so the biggest challenge for us and Will is to find another position for him to play where he can make a really, really important contribution for us," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"We're just exploring that at the minute."

Will Langford agrees to a new four-year deal with Hawthorn that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

"The group here is so wonderful," Langford said.

"It's like a collective effort, really working towards the ultimate goal and trying to win premierships, and I've just enjoyed being a part of that environment for the past five years.

"The prospect of doing that for a little while longer is really appealing."

Will Langford could miss the rest of the home and away season with a knee injury.

The emerging on-baller was on the comeback trail from a knee problem when he suffered a setback with his medial ligament at training last week.

The Hawks aren't sure how long Langford will be sidelined, with his recovery period ranging from 2-6 weeks.

"He's recovered pretty well from it, it's probably going to be closer to two than six, which is fortunate," general manager of football operations Chris Fagan told the club's website.

"But it's just one of those things we'll have to take as it comes and see what his level of soreness is like."

Will Langford says earning a recall against Adelaide in round 17 last year was the opportunity he had been waiting for to prove his worth to the Hawks.

"I just made a vow that I wanted to give it my absolute all," Langford said.

"Probably six or seven weeks out from finals (I started) really committing in my own mind to what I wanted to do and putting myself in a position where if the opportunity presented to play deep into September, I'd be there and be a part of it.

"Fortunately things played out the way that they did."

Contract extension talks between Hawthorn and Will Langford will have to wait until the season is up and running with the 22-year-old in no rush to sign on beyond 2015.

Will Langford had to wait longer than most for his opportunity at the top level, but he has certainly made every moment count once it came.

Born into Hawthorn royalty as the son of four-time Hawk premiership legend Chris, Langford was forced to bide his time.

The No.85 pick in the 2011 Rookie Draft (NSW scholarship selection) waited almost three full seasons before earning his senior debut in round 17, 2013.

Now with 20 games alongside his name, Will Langford is a premiership player in his own right at 22 years of age.

"There's a bit of a tradition at Hawthorn of players doing an apprenticeship. I knew full well that that is what I might have had to do," Langford said.

"I was never restless. I knew I had to keep working hard and I knew that one day I'd get a shot at it."

Emerging Hawthorn midfielder Will Langford says he isn't worried about keeping his spot in the side despite the imminent return of five star Hawks from injury.

Langford has come into his own in recent weeks with 21 touches in the win over the Western Bulldogs and a career-high 27 against the Demons.

"I've been thrilled to have had that opportunity (to play 13 games this season) and to think that I've contributed throughout the year," Langford said.

"As long as the club is achieving and hopefully going close to getting the success that we had last year – that's what it's all about.

"To be honest, I'm not going out there thinking 'I need to hold my spot this week'.

"I'm out there having the opportunity to play in a great side at the top level so personally I'm just trying to enjoy it."

The Hawks confirm that they will be promoting rookies Jonathan Ceglar and Will Langford at next month's NAB AFL Draft.

William Langford makes his AFL debut for Hawthorn with 4 disposals (3 kicks and a handball), a mark and 3 tackles in a 19-point win over the Western Bulldogs.