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Many good critics who saw Don Langdon play in the early sixties maintain that he was one of the best centre half forwards to ever play in the WANFL. He was certainly one of East Perth's best, but it took some smart work from the man who signed some of the best, Hec Strempel, to sign him after he had looked a sure bet to become a Tiger.  Don Langdon was a Claremont supporter as a youngster, and was a member of Scotch College's first eighteen, even at the age of thirteen. “They played me in the forward pocket,” Don recalled. Scotch had Austin Robertson senior as their football mentor. “Good coach and interesting man,” was Don's recollection of Robertson.  Don was a Claremont supporter in those days. “I used to walk down the hill and watch “Sonny” Maffina, Maurie Bridgewood, and Les McClements play,” he said.  The Langdons were farmers at Shackleton, and Don's father was adamant.  Don's place was on the farm. But the Langdon farm received visits from several WANFL footy clubs. “Toddy, Jack Harrison, and Dave Ingraham, from South Fremantle, came calling one day, “ he said.  “They brought a carton of grog, we played a bit of cricket, all had a great time, but they went home without a signature.” West Perth were also suitors.  Keen on proving himself in the big league, Langdon played in a practice match with Claremont in 1956.  However, it wasn't until the summer of 58 that Hec Strempel and Jack Sheedy went to Claremont Oval where Langdon was playing cricket and came away with his signature. “ I guess the fact that East Perth were the reigning premiers gave them the edge over Claremont, who were struggling, when it came down to tin tacks,” he said.  “I wasn't going to be there for the long haul, so when the sweet talk came from the top side, it was inviting.” So it was that Langdon lined up with East Perth for the first fixture of the 1959 season.  Langdon was to play only sixty nine games of league football, spanning just four seasons, but in a short time he achieved star status in the key attacking position for the Royals. In that first season, he was immediately selected for Western Australia, and made five successive State appearances as a key forward, a season in which he was equal Sandover Medal runner up to West Perth ruckman Brian Foley, playing at centre half forward, and kicked four goals in East Perth's premiership win over Subiaco. Noted for his creativity as a forward, Langdon at six foot one and a half and fourteen stone was an ideal build for the position, his handballing and quick transference of play a highlight of his game, and he was equally adept on the ground or in the air.   East Perth were a dominant side in the late fifties, and the addition of a ready made centre half forward in Langdon, along with a star from South Australia, Neil Hawke, at full forward, made them a powerful combination. They played in three successive grand finals, winning one and were runners up in the following two. “Neil Hawke was a brilliant kick. I would say that he revolutionised the punt kick,”  Langdon remarked about the Test cricketer. In 1961, the first year of Swans hat trick of flags, East Perth lost the grand final after defeating Swans by forty eight points in the second semi final. Langdon had suffered with ankle problems throughout his career, and a car accident , combined with pressures of the farm, were factors that were behind his decision to retire from the league scene at the end of the 1962 season “I'd had a good run,”he said, “It was time to get back to the farm.” He had played a total of sixty nine games with East Perth, for ninety nine goals, plus five State appearances, and a stellar career was over at the age of twenty three.  In all the time he played for East Perth, Langdon travelled to the city  on Friday nights, staying in one of Jack Sheedy's pubs,with a few beers Sunday morning, then back home Sunday afternoon.  Don Langdon played and coached at Shackleton as well as the Eastern Districts combined side for many years after returning to the farm. He proved to be invaluable to the Royals with his ability to pick out talent in country competitions. But he rues the one that got away. “I took Sheedy to the Carnival and told him to keep his eye on a young rover from Narembeen. The bloke starred, gathering possessions at will. “Yeah, gets the ball a lot, doesn't do too much with it,” was Jack's post match appraisal of the young player. History shows that Billy Walker went on to win four Sandover Medals with Swan Districts.  When Scotch College selected their “Team of the Twentieth Century”, Don Langdon was at centre half forward. Langdon's sporting prowess wasn't limited to football, however. He was an outstanding country cricketer, who represented WA Country in matches against West Indies in Kalgoorlie and England at Geraldton. He has been part of the strong Doubleview Bowling Club contingent for many years.  Don rated Brian France, Ken Bagley, Ray Gabelich, Don Byfield, and Ross Kelly as hardest to beat, while naming “Polly” Farmer, Paul Seal, Ted Kilmurray, Ned Bull, Mal Atwell, and Neil Hawke as best he played with.  These days he has moved closer to the city. “We sold the farm in 2000, and now have a small block just far enough away from Perth,” he said. Asked for his interests, he said: “Fishing, fishing, fishing.” He is enjoying life with wife Coral and three boys Don(who played for Subiaco), Anthony, and Jay.  Don Langdon had a brief career at the top but left a lasting impression as a centre half forward of class.   

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