EDFL 2021: Airport West star Tyson Young signs at Greenvale

Keen to test himself against the best, one of the Essendon District Football League’s leading performers is on the move.

Tyson Young locks horns with his new club Greenvale in 2019. Picture: Hamish Blair

Star utility Tyson Young is on the move.

The Airport West gun has crossed from his junior club to Essendon District Football League Premier Division outfit Greenvale in a boost for Darren Bewick’s side.

Young is best friends with Bewick’s son Jett, with the dual Essendon premiership player replacing Paul Chapman at the helm as the Jets chase their first flag since 2013.

Young had spent all but one season with the Eagles since joining them in 2005 but is determined to test himself against the competition’s elite, with Airport West relegated from the top flight after the 2019 campaign.

The versatile 23-year-old has been rated among the leading players in Division 1 in recent years and impacts games as a forward, midfielder or defender.

Tyson Young on the burst for Airport West. Picture: Mark Dadswell

He has earned plaudits for his neat foot skills, marking ability, athleticism and work ethic.

Young took the field for Port Douglas last season, helping it secure a fifth consecutive flag in the AFL Cairns competition.

“I just thought I’d make the move to A grade, to a top club,” Young told Leader Local Footy.

“I feel like I can hold my own in that league, so I was little bit disappointed when (Airport West) got relegated. I thought about going (to Greenvale) the previous year, before COVID hit, but because I was doing a bit of travelling I thought I’d stay at Airport West another year.

“But with a full crack at it, I thought it was time to move.

“I trained a couple of sessions before Christmas and then we’re back at it on Monday.”

Young arrives at Greenvale with an impressive record, having been crowned the Hutchison medallist for the best-and-fairest player in Division 1 in 2017.

He booted 103 goals – 47 in 2017 and 56 in 2018 – across two outstanding seasons in the second tier, with the Eagles contesting back-to-back grand finals.

Young was one of Airport West’s leading performers in Premier Division in 2019, earning five mentions in the best from 18 games.

Before 2020 was scrapped, Young had recorded top-three finishes in the Eagles’ best-and-fairest in three consecutive seasons, underlining his class and consistency.

He said he had been promised more time in the middle at the Jets, which is his favoured position, but added he did not expect to be pigeon-holed.

“I want to move into the midfield a bit more, so they’ve offered that opportunity,” Young said.

“I was playing as a tall forward as well, so wherever I fit I’ll play I suppose.”

Young said it was a difficult decision to depart Airport West given his long involvement with the club.

He said Jimmy House’s exit as coach to take up a role with VFL club Sandringham and the fact the Eagles were still searching for a mentor for 2021 were not factors in his call.

“I weighed it up last year and this year,” Young said.

“It was more for me, something I had to do, but definitely a tough decision.

“I’ve grown up with everyone that plays there.”

Young joins a Greenvale side smarting from a rare finals miss in 2019.

The Jets last qualified for the decider in 2017 and were eliminated in the opening week of finals the following year.

“There’s good numbers on the track,” Young said.

“There’s a bit of a buzz … all the big guns are still there, so I reckon we’ll give it a good tilt.”

Greenvale will host rival Aberfeldie in a blockbuster clash in the opening round on April 10.