NAB League 2019: Somerville teenager Hayden Young chases AFL dream

Dandenong Stingrays captain Hayden Young has emerged as a hot AFL draft prospect.

Hayden Young of the Stingrays breaks out of the centre during the NAB league match against Gippsland Power last month.

Hayden Young says it was gut-wrenching.

He was 15 and the football season with Somerville’s juniors had just begun.

Young was having a ball; loving his footy. But while laying a tackle, he rolled his ankle and his opponent landed smack, bang on it — and crack.

“I had a fracture in my tibia,” he said.

“That kept me out for the rest of the year.”

It was bad timing. Young was supposed to be flying to England 17 days later for a cricket tour with the MPCA under 15s.

Hayden Young swings on to his left foot.

His football and cricket dreams on hold, Young was shattered.

It was a test of character, a time to learn about himself.

“Just missing out on a whole year of footy was pretty gut wrenching but I suppose it gave me a bit more drive and determination to get back out there,” he said.

“I actually thought, even though you don’t want to get injured, it was good for me. It allowed me to think about footy. When I did come back to footy I started taking it a lot more seriously, started thinking about what I was doing off the field, what I’m eating and what not.

“It probably came at a good time.

“The other bonus was it gave me 12 months to work on my opposite foot which has come in handy.”

Young on the move for Vic Country against Western Australia at Marvel Stadium on July 3.

Fast forward three years and Young, 18, has emerged as a hot AFL draft prospect.

He played in the Dandenong Stingrays’ historic premiership last season as a bottom-ager and this year has further enhanced his reputation by excelling with Vic Country in the national titles, earning All Australian selection.

The defender-cum-midfielder is a smooth mover with a damaging left-foot kick and, according to ex-Stingrays coach Craig Black, is a player you want to have the ball.

“In the nationals against Metro, he got this ball on the boundary in the dying minutes - under the pump - and he’s kicked it 45 metres back inside to someone who didn’t break stride,” Black said.

“Mate, there wouldn’t be many players in the draft who can do that. There’s probably not many players in the AFL who can do that.”

Young grew up in a sports mad family. His older brother Lachlan, who also played in the Stingrays’ flag last season, is on the Western Bulldogs list and has already played six senior games in his first season.

Younger brother Josh is a good cricketer who debuted in Somerville’s firsts last season as a 15-year-old. And dad Pete has been a great contributor in Somerville junior cricket and footy.

Hayden says watching big brother Lachlan’s journey to the AFL has made him proud and given him an insight into what’s ahead.

He said playing together in the Stingrays’ flag was “awesome”.

“I played footy with him back in under 10s when I was eight and he was 10 and then last year in the grand final,” Hayden said.

“It was pretty special and definitely one thing we won’t forget and I don’t think our parents will either.”

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Hayden, who is juggling Year 12 studies at Mornington Secondary College with football commitments, is looking forward to the future and draft day. “I’m not really too stressed about where I go,” he said. “The ranking of where I go doesn’t really bother me. It’s been good to watch my brother’s journey, where he’s come from and the impact he’s had in his first season.”