A STIRRING second half of the season will have Carlton full of confidence with 2019 coming to a close.

Familiar faces fired in Navy Blue while the Club’s emerging youngsters owned the future in a campaign which saw the Blues record seven wins for the year.

With the home-and-away season now over, we’re going through every player who featured for Carlton at senior level in 2019. 

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No. 16, Darcy Lang. 

GAMES

2019: 8

Career: 63

GOALS

2019: 5

Career: 42

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 63 (7.9) Marks: 24 (3.0) Contested Possessions: 24 (3.0) Tackles: 24 (3.0) Pressure Acts: 129 (16.1) Metres Gained: 1021 (127.6)

Darcy Lang in action for the Northern Blues (Photo: Rose Zarucky)

OVERVIEW 

After battling with injury throughout the pre-season, Darcy Lang began the 2019 season playing with the Northern Blues in the VFL. 

The coaches were eager to add more depth to Lang’s game in 2019, and gave the 23-year-old the challenge of a new role up forward.  

Lang rose to the challenge in the VFL, averaging 18.5 disposals and applying consistent pressure around the contest onto the opposition defenders. 

His efforts would not go unrecognised, as he featured in seven consecutive games to close the 2019 season. 

The move up forward seemed to provide the catalyst for Lang, who finished the season under new coach David Teague averaging 16 pressure acts per game. 

 

BEST PERFORMANCE

Lang attacked his new role up forward with a real intent and enthusiasm, best demonstrated in his performance in the Round 18 win against the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium.

In what was a well-rounded performance across the board for the Blues, Lang displayed his intense pressure around the contests with five tackles that contributed to the Blues’ victory. 

His pressure was rewarded, finishing the day with 13 disposals, six score involvements and an important goal. 

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

It was once again Lang’s pressure up forward that helped Blues seal a famous victory on the road in Round 17 against Sydney. 

With six minutes to go and with the game on the line in the final quarter, Lang intercepted a Sydney attempt to rebound off half back to create a turnover. 

The ball would then spill to Paddy Dow, who gave Harry McKay the opportunity to take full advantage and kick the sealer to give the Blues a seven-point victory.