West Adelaide champion Lauren Young continues ACL recovery, sets sights on 2023 SANFLW return

An injured superstar was forced to look on as the best and fairest and premiers were crowned. Now arguably the league’s best player reveals when she’ll return.

It was easy to forget amid the drama of last week’s SANFLW awards and historic grand final that arguably the league’s best player was hampered on the sidelines.

All West Adelaide superstar and Port Adelaide academy prospect Lauren Young could do was watch on as her Bloods missed the 2022 finals campaign and North Adelaide became two-time premiers.

A year after completely dominating the competition for her club and the national championships for SA at just 15 – winning League Best and Fairest and national U19 MVP – the now 16-year-old is still recovering from a devastating ACL tear.

“I’d give anything to be back out on the field right now,” Young said.

“I was always occupying myself during games through the season so I could never really watch, but watching the grand final on the weekend … it was hard not to feel disappointed that the girls and I missed it.”

Young, who attends Henley High School, won the SANFLW Best and Fairest award in 2021 at just 15-years-old. Picture: Tom Huntley

Young also won the AFLW U19 National Championships MVP after dominating for SA. Being so young, she had to gain special permission to compete in the competition. Picture: Mark Brake

Young twisted her knee awkwardly and tore her ACL in a handball session during November preseason training, just months after competing in a losing 2021 grand final with the Bloods.

The talented midfielder – who will be a sure-fire AFLW draft pick once she is 18 – said the road to recovery had been challenging, but one she had fully embraced.

“I definitely did have a cry when I found out it was an ACL tear – I was so sure it was just a corky or something,” Young said.

“It was definitely tough to begin with but I was lucky because I had girls like Cam Kennedy and Zoe Greer at Westies who had done their ACLs before too, so they helped me get through the first couple months and as weird as it sounds I became a bit excited about the 12-month recovery period.”

Young has spent the last six months working with West Adelaide doctors and physios to strengthen her knee and regain movement.

She is now beginning to run again.

Young (left) is part of Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy and should be picked by the Power or another club in a future AFLW draft. Picture: Sarah Reed

“West Adelaide has been so good to me. They got me through surgery straight away and they’ve helped me a lot with recovery,” Young said.

“I’ve been feeling really good the last month and it’s definitely been my best month so far.

“I’ve still probably got about six months left but I’m definitely on track to play at the start of next season.”

As she is an exciting prospect at the AFL club’s Next Generation Academy, Young has also had assistance from Port Adelaide.

Not only has she used its facilities but she was also able to assist academy coach Justin Whestoff through the season.

Young was eager to take the field for West Adelaide again and believed the club was set for a big 2023. Picture: SANFL

“To be able to learn from Justin and hear his knowledge has been great and I hope I can apply that to my game when I return,” Young said.

As she makes steady progress, Young already has her sights set on the 2023 SANFLW season.

A powerful and athletic midfielder/forward before injury, she is confident she will be back to her best.

“I’m so keen – it’s going to be a big season next year and I can feel another grand final looming for us because we’ve got so many young girls coming through and the experienced players should really hold the team together,” Young said.

“I’m sure I’ll be back to my best. Everything seems to be going smoothly at the moment so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”