CONTRACT extension talks between Hawthorn and Grand Final hero Will Langford will have to wait until the season is up and running.
AFL.com.au understands the 22-year-old is in no rush to sign on beyond 2015 after shooting to prominence with a series of brilliant performances that culminated in an outstanding Grand Final.
Ideally, the Hawks like to secure the signatures of their players coming out of contract early in the season but Langford is believed to be comfortable delaying talks as he concentrates on building on his outstanding 2014.
After announcing before last season a contract extension that tied him to the club until the end of 2015, Langford was the surprise standout at Hawthorn, cementing his spot in the club's strong midfield.
Given Langford's strong ties to the Hawks – father Chris is a premiership player at Hawthorn and his brother Lachlan joined the club this season as a rookie – the club would be keen to secure the NSW-raised midfielder's signature as he shapes as a critical part of their future midfield.
He is also a player whose value will rise if his hot form continues into this season. Langford's performances in 2014 went beyond what most would have predicted for him, but after playing 10 of the first 11 games he took until late in the season to cement his spot stepping up to replace missing stars in the injury-hit team.
His breakout game was against the Western Bulldogs in round 19 when he played well in the absence of Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell.
It was just his 13th game and came three weeks after he had returned to the side following four games in the VFL.
He then proved to be the difference in the round 22 clash against Geelong with two goals in the second half, earning his first Brownlow vote as the Hawks overcame a five-goal half-time deficit.
He continued his good form throughout the finals, being in the best in the tight preliminary final win against Port Adelaide and kicking three goals in the Grand Final, including a dribble goal from the boundary that sealed the victory.
He was so good in that decider against the Sydney Swans that he was one of five players to earn votes in the Norm Smith Medal.
List manager Graham Wright indicated to the Herald Sun in November after the 2014 NAB AFL Draft the club's keenness to sign young guns such as Langford, Liam Shiels and Jonathon Ceglar.
"Langford was outstanding this year," Wright said.
"He really jumped up and we needed someone like him to help in the midfield.
"He is a real athlete and he has some drive about him and he was outstanding for us in the back half of the year."