Essendon forward Kyle Langford says it’s an “honour” and “privilege” to play in the annual Anzac Day match between the Bombers and Magpies ahead of Tuesday’s blockbuster match while opening up on his own personal connection to the big occasion.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Langford revealed his great grandfather served for Australia in The New Guinea campaign of the Pacific War, detailing some of the hardship he endured and his bravery.
“My great grandfather, Ernie Farrah, he served in Papua New Guinea in World War II. That’s definitely something when I’m standing out there on the Last Post, I kind of reflect upon him,” Langford told AFL 360.
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“I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard stories from my dad and grandparents. That’s just something for me to reflect on.
“Over the last week I’ve been doing a bit more research into it. From my understanding, he contracted malaria when he was over there in Papua New Guinea.
“He also got blown up by bomb and he had shrapnel wounds. He got sent back to the medical tent, and from what I know, he managed to sneak out and go right back to battle.
“I think he was in the 2nd/8th Battalion, so he was a Lance Corporal.”
Langford also revealed Farrah played in a premiership for Victoria Brewery’s footy team, having worked for the brewery, prior to the war in the 1930s.
Any new Bombers players and staff this week visited the Shrine of Remembrance and heard stories from past veterans, while the club on Friday welcomed former players to share what Anzac Day meant to them and their anecdotes.
As for the game itself, Langford admitted Tuesday’s clash feels “totally different” for the 4-1 Bombers compared to last year, when they were 1-4 in a game the forward missed due to injury.
It marks the first time since 2000 both Essendon and Collingwood both sit inside the top four ahead of the highly-anticipated clash expected to draw a crowd around 90,000 at the MCG.
“We’re not getting too ahead of ourselves at all, we understand we’ve played four teams that didn’t play finals last year, with all due respect to them,” Langford said.
“We’ve knocked off Melbourne, we’ve now got Collingwood, and then in the next month we’ve got the likes of Geelong, Brisbane and Port Adelaide.
“Although we’re 4-1 and we’re playing really good football, we understand we’ve got a really big month ahead of us.”
Despite so much intrigue leading into Tuesday’s match between the two big Victorian clubs and the excitement of playing on the grand stage, Langford said Anzac Day was bigger then footy.
“We’re going out there to kick a footy around. (But) for me, it’s actually looking at what people have done to serve the country and (how they) went to war and died for us,” he said.
“For me to go out there and kick a footy, but to wear the poppy on my chest, I have enormous pride. (Because) my great grandfather served, it’s in his memory as well.
“It’s an absolute honour and privilege to be able to play. There’s such rich history, not just with the football club, but it’s so important for Australia — representing both past, present and future that serve the country.
“I absolutely love playing in front of a massive crowd and for it to really mean something to everyone.”
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New Bombers coach Brad Scott has played a key role in the club’s early-season resurgence, with its only loss coming at the hands of the first-placed Saints.
And Langford backed up a claim from North Melbourne champion Todd Goldstein, who also appeared on AFL 360 ahead of his 300th game and played 10 seasons under Scott, that Essendon was getting “best version” of the coach.
“Anyone who knows Brad, as soon as he walks in the room, he kind of commands the respect in the room,” Langford said. “There’s just something about him, there’s a bit of an aura.
“Speaking to Todd, he reckons we’ve got the best version of him. Obviously in 10 years at North Melbourne he (Scott) would’ve learned a hell of a lot, as well as at the AFL.
“I’m a believer that we’re getting the best of Brad, as well.”
