EVEN the most experienced Western Region Football League division 1 grand final performer will have butterflies coursing through his stomach this week.
Spotswood half-forward flanker Will Langlands will buckle up for an incredible sixth consecutive tango at the big dance and will be as nervous as the first time he appeared on western suburbs footy’s biggest stage.
“For me, personally, I like to get them out of the way,” he told the Weekly. “It’s a nervous week for me, a nervous day. I don’t really enjoy it, but you’ve got to be a part of it.
“This is six now and I still get nervous like the first one.”
The Woodsmen have featured in the past five grand finals dating back to 2007.
The home-grown Langlands, older brother of captain Tom and son of club life member Gavin, is the only player to feature in all five.
Langlands said the determination to continue the premiership era was strong.
“The buzz is still there,” he said. “It’s always different. You can’t keep the players even if you do win.
“Some guys haven’t played in many, some guys haven’t played in any, so the hunger is definitely still there.”
Langlands is happy to play the mind games ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated grand final clash with minor premiers Altona Vikings.
He said the Vikings should be favourites on the form they have shown throughout the season and in the finals.
Of the 44 players involved in the game, Langlands knows that favourites can lose and underdogs can surprise.
“Definitely, they go in as favourites,” he said cheekily. “We go in there with nothing to lose and it’s not a bad feeling to go in there like that.
“If you’re the favourites you’ve got everything to lose.”
