Latest news with #HaydenYoung
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle star Hayden Young labelled the ‘point of difference' in Dockers premiership pursuit
Hayden Young has been labelled Fremantle's 'point of difference' in the Dockers' flag tilt following a blistering return from injury over the past fortnight. Young secured his first Glendinning-Allan Medal despite being subbed off early in the fourth quarter against West Coast after a commanding display with 23 touches, seven clearances and three goals in a derby domination. Channel Seven commentator Kate McCarthy said it was imperative the Dockers keep the left-footer fit, if they are to go deep into September and their hopes of winning a maiden premiership. 'Purely for what they have through the midfield, they have Andrew Brayshaw and (Caleb) Serong with Luke Jackson running through, but he (Young) is a genuine point of difference for them,' she said on 'He had a really important fourth quarter last week as the sub with 11 disposals and just continued on with that momentum, he's been their most important player. 'Keeping him on the park is an absolute must if you're Fremantle because he is key to your team going deep into September and maybe onto their first flag.' Young has managed just six games this year after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury he picked up in their round eight loss to St Kilda, having missed the start of the year with a similar injury. Given his history, the Dockers have been managing his return to the AFL level, including acting as the sub against Collingwood, with coach Justin Longmuir warning there is still more to come as he works his way back to full fitness. 'It was a good build from last week and should set him up well for next week. I thought he was clean, I thought he found space, and I thought he finished well. He was sharp,' Longmuir said post-game. 'We've missed his ball use at times this year. He's a welcome addition. He gives us another big body around there as well, which helps Andy and Caleb and the other mids. We've missed that as well. 'I thought our stoppage work went to a level it hasn't seen for a while today. I'm sure Youngy had an impact on that. Of course, that excites me.'
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Young the ‘point of difference' to Freo's flag tilt
Hayden Young has been labelled Fremantle's 'point of difference' in the Dockers' flag tilt following a blistering return from injury over the past fortnight. Young secured his first Glendinning-Allan Medal despite being subbed off early in the fourth quarter against West Coast after a commanding display with 23 touches, seven clearances and three goals in a derby domination. Channel Seven commentator Kate McCarthy said it was imperative the Dockers keep the left-footer fit, if they are to go deep into September and their hopes of winning a maiden premiership. 'Purely for what they have through the midfield, they have Andrew Brayshaw and (Caleb) Serong with Luke Jackson running through, but he (Young) is a genuine point of difference for them,' she said on 'He had a really important fourth quarter last week as the sub with 11 disposals and just continued on with that momentum, he's been their most important player. 'Keeping him on the park is an absolute must if you're Fremantle because he is key to your team going deep into September and maybe onto their first flag.' Young has managed just six games this year after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury he picked up in their round eight loss to St Kilda, having missed the start of the year with a similar injury. Hayden Young & Justin Longmuir pose for a photo after the match. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos / Getty Images Given his history, the Dockers have been managing his return to the AFL level, including acting as the sub against Collingwood, with coach Justin Longmuir warning there is still more to come as he works his way back to full fitness. 'It was a good build from last week and should set him up well for next week. I thought he was clean, I thought he found space, and I thought he finished well. He was sharp,' Longmuir said post-game. 'We've missed his ball use at times this year. He's a welcome addition. He gives us another big body around there as well, which helps Andy and Caleb and the other mids. We've missed that as well. 'I thought our stoppage work went to a level it hasn't seen for a while today. I'm sure Youngy had an impact on that. Of course, that excites me.'
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle star Hayden Young says Dockers' best as good as anyone else's in race for finals
Freshly minted Glendinning-Allan medallist Hayden Young says Fremantle can 'beat anyone' if they stick to their brand. As the Dockers chase a first finals berth in three Septembers, Young has slotted seamlessly into a midfield with great depth and Nat Fyfe still to squeeze in. The Dockers are eight-points clear of the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs – with a home clash against Carlton next week followed by a road trip against Port Adelaide, Brisbane at home and the Bulldogs on their home turf to finish. Young said one eye was on percentage, which will be crucial with Freo's 111.7 the lowest in the eight, but they were more focused on playing four quarters. 'We've been speaking a lot lately about playing 120 minutes of our brand. And when we do that more often we feel like we can beat anyone,' Young told The West Australian. 'That's the challenge going forward, is not look too far ahead and see if we can just put together four quarters of footy every week. 'We beat top of the ladder (Collingwood) last week, so it just proves to us that, you know, when we can play our brand for longer, we can beat anyone. And we keep believing in that and keep working on those few areas about not falling away.' The Dockers cost themselves priceless percentage by kicking eight consecutive behinds between the fourth minute of the second quarter and the 10th minute of the third term, but kicked 18.18, their most scoring shots in a decade. They conceded five goals to two in the final term to eventually win the 61st western derby by 49 points. 'Sometimes that happens. We're obviously trying, there's times where we can find a better option,' Young said. 'There's also times where it's the right option. We just mix it, didn't execute it. 'Sometimes that can happen and it just compounds and you sort of feel like, 'Oh, we just can't get a goal' and you almost try harder to kick goals when the reality is you just need to relax and just treat every moment on its merits. 'We were a little bit frustrated with our last quarter, just because they kicked three goals in a row there. 'We want to keep teams to low scores. It doesn't matter who we play, and obviously, today was an opportunity to get some percentage but it wasn't really front of mind. 'But we still don't want to be letting teams keep goals late in quarters or late in games. 'It's disappointing. But, I mean, we can get better. 'We had 40 shots on the goal, that's pretty good. So if we can create 40 opportunities every game.' After starting last week as the sub but having a huge impact when injected late in the game against Collingwood, Young was given the nod for the starting 22 in the derby. He kicked three goals and collected 23 disposals, seven clearances, eight score involvements and 555m gained to poll eight of a maximum of nine votes and win the medal ahead of Andrew Brayshaw (six votes) and Murphy Reid (four votes). His first quarter produced 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals, the first off a free kick for a hold at close range, the second from stoppage. Young had numerous opponents but no one in particular, spending some time on West Coast tyro Harley Reid. 'At a bounce we sort of treat it as a four on four and we don't really have any match ups,' Young said. 'They had (Brady) Hough coming to Caleb (Serong), so we were aware of that, and stoppages around the ground, Jaeger (O'Meara) was going to Harley, so I suppose I didn't really have a direct match up. 'There were times where Jaeger wasn't in the stoppage, and I matched up quite well against Harley, being a bigger body.' Young said it was comforting to come out of the centre knowing he had three big forwards – Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss – to kick to and a suite of crafty medium and small forwards at their feet. 'They're presenting well, working together, and I thought they were great tonight,' Young said. 'They had a lot of opportunities and they have just got to keep backing themselves in and the goals will come.' Voss and Amiss kicked three each and Michael Frederick, and Shai Bolton, Isaiah Dudley, Murphy Reid, Sam Switkowski and Luke Jackson singles. Young said Voss's energy was catching. 'He's been unreal for us this year. Great story where he's had a few setbacks and he's had to work really hard for his opportunity,' Young said. 'I think that's what we all love about him. He's super-grateful, and he does whatever the team needs. 'Last week, he played on Darcy Moore in a defensive role and ended up kicking six goals. So we love what he does for us, and he brings good energy.' Of his own three goals, Young said: 'I got lucky. I got a free kick and came off the bench for my third one and just happened to find the ball in my hand. So sometimes you just get lucky. But I was happy,' he said. And it is always good to beat the mob up the road in front of 54,384 mainly purple-clad fans. 'They've had a tough year, but when you come into a derby, you always know it's going to be a good battle,' Young said. 'And that's what you want. You want you want to play in good games, there was a bit of feeling in it and the crowd was involved and was like that for majority of the game today. 'Probably because we weren't kicking straight it felt like they were more in it than what they were. 'But the reality was we were dominating a lot of areas of the ground. We just weren't finishing our work. 'So it kept the game interesting for the fans. And, I mean, they brought the heat, but obviously we dominated in a few areas.'
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Western derby 61: Glendinning-Allan medallist Hayden Young keeping stellar comeback simple
Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young said he tried to keep his approach 'really simple' on his return from a long-term injury, but the result has been anything but in a two-step return to peak form. A week after pulling on the subs vest and inspiring the Dockers to a win over top-of-the-ladder Collingwood at the MCG, Young now has a Glendinning Allan Medal in his possession as best-afield in a 49-point win over Fremantle in the 61st western derby. 'The medal is good, but I'm more pleased that I was able to come back and get through a game of footy and build some form because obviously it's been a while that I've been out of the game,' Young said. 'When you come back, you're always nervous about how you're going to go. And I've tried to keep my game pretty simple, try to do the basics well.' The big-bodied midfielder with the rapier left foot kicked three goals and collected 23 disposals, seven clearances, eight score involvements and 555m gained to poll eight of a maximum of nine votes and win the medal ahead of Andrew Brayshaw (six votes) and Murphy Reid (four votes). He set up the Dockers' win with a powerful first quarter when he registered 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals. 'In the past I probably wanted to play well in these games, because it's a big game,' he said. 'Yes, there's a medal attached to it, but because I'm coming back from injury, my mindset was just do what the team needs, play my role and whatever happens, happens. 'Sometimes when you try hard to achieve something, it sort of gets further away from you, and once you sort of let go of that and just, I suppose, do what the team needs, those things will happen.' Young said he felt confident coming out of the Magpies clash, which was his first game in 10 weeks off a hamstring injury. 'I played a quarter last week and felt like I was able to jump into the game and have an influence,' he said. 'I felt like I was seeing the ball really well. Sometimes that's an issue when you come back from an injury, you lose a bit of touch, or the game feels a bit quick. 'I didn't feel that last week in what was a pretty high stakes game with really good opposition, so that set me up well, going into this week. 'I felt confident in my ability and I just trusted I had more.' Young was managed out in the final term and said that was always the plan. 'I was always going to be on managed minutes, so it was just about how they did that. There were options to play four quarters but spend more time on the bench or forward. 'But I mustn't have been running too well. And when they said 'mate, come off', it was fine. So happy to tick that box and keep building.' GLENDINNING-ALLAN MEDAL VOTING Peter Bell (ABC) - Chair 3-Hayden Young 2- Murphy Reid 1- Andy Brayshaw Jackson Barrett (The West Australian) 3- Hayden Young 2- Andrew Brayshaw 1- Murphy Reid Mark LeCras (Channel 7) 3- Andy Brayshaw 2- Hayden Young 1- Murphy Reid TOTAL 8- Hayden Young 6 - Andy Brayshaw 4 - Murphy Reid
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Young talent time! Returning midfielder snares derby medal
Hayden Young underlined his match-winning importance to Freo by snaring the Glendinning-Allan Medal in his first match start in almost three months - and without even completing the game. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW THE JUDGES VOTED The silky left-footer finished the game with three goals from 23 disposals, seven clearances, eight score involvements and 555m gained to poll eight of a maximum of nine votes and win the medal ahead of Andrew Brayshaw (six votes) and Murphy Reid (four votes). He set up the Dockers' 49-point victory over West Coast in a blistering first quarter when he registered 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals. The stellard showing came in his first full game and second overall back from hamstring surgery. Young was subbed out of the clash early in the fourth quarter with the game in hand as the Dockers continue to manage his workload. 'I'm just building into it so I was managed today. Came off a little bit to help the legs, but I am feeling really good,' Young told Fox Footy. 'The boys have helped me a lot, getting me into the game. I was a bit rusty today but it was good to get back within the group and build some momentum. 'There was some good moments, but I missed a few opportunities which I will be a bit flat about.' It also ensured his teammate Caleb Serong will have to wait until next season to try to break a tie with Paul Hasleby for the most medals in derby history. Peter Bell (ABC) - Chair 3-Hayden Young 2- Murphy Reid 1- Andy Brayshaw Jackson Barrett (The West Australian) 3- Hayden Young 2- Andrew Brayshaw 1- Murphy Reid Mark LeCras (Channel 7) 3- Andy Brayshaw 2- Hayden Young 1- Murphy Reid TOTAL 8- Hayden Young 6 - Andy Brayshaw 4 - Murphy Reid
