Roos legend Lang reflects on 250 games

FOR Nick Lang, notching up 250 games for Kangaroo Flat is the product of hard work and loyalty.

It’s one of those traits that initially lured the Roos stalwart to Dower Park as a 10-year-old playing in the under-12s and has kept him there for all but a couple of years over two-and a-bit decades.

Lang, who reached the milestone in last Saturday’s senior clash against Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve, proudly refers to Kangaroo Flat as ‘home’ and ‘all he has ever known.’

The 35-year-old ruckman turned forward has always been a beacon of hope for the Roos during some lean times towards the back end of his career.

He is a firm believer in staying the course, a trait instilled in him by his father.

“I moved to Bendigo when I was nine and started playing juniors when I was 10. It (Kangaroo Flat) was all I knew as a junior,” Lang said.

“My old man always instilled a fair bit of loyalty in me. I always wanted to stick around and hopefully the good times would come.

“It is a great club. I know a lot of guys, who have got a flag with a lot of different clubs, and some who have played at the one club most of their career.

“At the end of the day it’s all about the people that get you there.

“The fact we haven’t had much success stings a little bit, but I still wouldn’t change things.

“The decision to go elsewhere (for two years) was something I thought about with my football mortality and coming to an end – a chance to go somewhere different.

 

“But Kangaroo Flat has always been home.”

That ‘decision to go elsewhere’ is a reference to the two years Lang spent with Central Murray league club Kerang in 2023 and ’24.

It yielded his only senior premiership in ’23 and ‘the one that got away’ in ’24 in which the Blues lost the grand final, after dropping only one game during the season.

Having savoured the premiership success he long craved, it was time to head home; the persistence of Roos coach Tyrone Downie – back at the helm for his second stint as coach – proving too hard and promising to ignore.

While success has not yet materialised – the Roos moved to 0-8 with their loss to Gisborne – Lang is glad and honoured to be back in the fold.

Reflecting on his 250 game milestone, Lang said it’s been a long period of good times.

“I played a bit of finals footy early on in my footy career … under-18s and some senior finals,” he said.

“It’s probably been lean times ever since, but I love the club and I love all the people involved.

“I have had a lot of great teammates over the years, so that makes it all worth it.”

Lang has taken on a new role in 2025 as a target up forward, after years of plying his trade in the ruck.

While it hasn’t been without its challenges, he is ever-willing, if not grateful, to play whatever role his coach asks of him.

Unashamed to admit the clock is ticking on his playing career and uncertain if he will go on beyond 2025, Lang can see not only light at the end of the tunnel for Kangaroo Flat, but a bright future on the horizon under the leadership of ‘Tigga’ Downie and head of football Jason Stevens.

“I don’t feel like it’s too far away. I know with Tyrone and Jugga (Stevens) coming on board, they clearly have a long-term plan in mind,” he said.

 

“A big thing will be trying to get some locals back to the club next year.

“There is some good local Kangaroo Flat talent playing in some other local leagues at the moment. “If we can wrangle a few of those boys back, things can hopefully turn pretty quick.

“I don’t think the boys are thinking overnight success, they want to build something sustainable. A slow build makes sense.

“I think when Tigga walks away from it in a couple years, he would have helped build something very sustainable.”

Asked to nominate the best players he has played alongside and against, Lang put Downie, Justin Maddern and from his Kerang days, Troy Coates and Troy Davis, in the teammate category, and Gisborne’s Luke Saunders, and Sandhurst’s Tim Martin as the cream of the rivals.

While he has long been a leader at Dower Park and an inspiration to his teammates in tough times, Lang admits it would be a surprise seeing him in the coaching box – at least short term – once his playing days were over.

“I do like the leadership stuff – it’s been enjoyable getting back to the club and being able to help a few of the young boys and to coach them through a few things,” he said.

“They do come to you for a bit of advice.

“But as far as coaching goes, it’s a big job these days and a lot of stress … a lot of things you have deal with.

“I don’t know if that’s me, but I’m sure I’ll still be around the place.”

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