Former Power, Suns forward Aaron Young rejects SANFL advances to play in NEAFL
Former Port Adelaide forward Aaron Young has rejected the chance to play in SANFL, signing instead for NEAFL club Aspley in Queensland.
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Former Port Adelaide and Gold Coast forward Aaron Young has turned his back on the SANFL to sign for NEAFL club Aspley.
Cut by the Suns at the end of the season after spending two years there following seven seasons at the Power, Young has revealed he is staying in Queensland despite SANFL clubs queuing up for his services.
“When you finish (in the AFL) you start getting calls from places you probably wouldn’t think of,’’ Young said of how his phone has run hot since being delisted by Gold Coast.
“But I’ve decided to stay in Queensland and play for Aspley because it suits me and my partner.
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“I’m looking forward to having a little less pressure training-wise and being able to get on with everyday life.
“I also wanted to find a place where I could enjoy my football while still playing at a high level and Aspley was a great fit.
“It’s a real community-based club and I’m looking forward to getting involved in that.’’
Victorian Young, 27, played 76 games for Port as forward/midfielder after being drafted at pick 36 at the 2010 national draft.
The Power traded him to the Suns at the end of 2017 for a fourth-round draft pick and he played all 22 games in his first year up north in 2018.
But this year he battled injuries and form issues, playing just two AFL games before being delisted.
The strong-marking Young booted 83 goals in his 100 matches and will combine his NEAFL football with a return to university studies where he plans to finish a bachelor of business degree.
While Young is planning for life after the AFL, he has not ruled himself out of being thrown an AFL lifeline.
“You just never know these days, with the mid-season draft,’’ Young told SEN SA.
“At the moment it does seem that it (AFL) is over for me but if there was another opportunity to go again I’d jump at it with two hands.’’’
Young, who will be joined at Aspley by West Adelaide premiership defender Errin Wasley-Black, described his AFL delisting as “really disappointing’’.
But he said he saw the writing on the wall after a tough personal season and the fact he remained uncontracted for so long.
“It was a tough year for but I guess I was a little surprised when I was told I was going to be delisted,’’ Young said.
“But I’ve had a pretty solid career, playing 100 games over eight years, so I leave pretty happy, really proud, with what I’ve been able to achieve.
“To play 100 games is a pretty good achievement.’’