Fremantle’s Hayden Young locked in for the next nine seasons in massive contract extension

It could be a momentous statement of faith or an incredible blunder, but Fremantle now have the longest contracted player in the AFL after a staggering move.

Lengthy AFL contracts have a new king with Fremantle signing Hayden Young until the end of 2033, making him the longest-contracted player in the AFL.

Young, 23, was already locked in until the end of 2027 after inking a four-year deal in the middle of 2022 but has signed a six-year extension.

He goes past five players who are all contracted until 2032, including GWS star defender Sam Taylor, St Kilda’s Max King and the Western Bulldogs’ Aaron Naughton.

It also makes 22 AFL players contracted to 2030 or beyond.

Gold Coast young gun Mac Andrew signed a deal until 2030 but has a trigger that could take him to 2034, one year beyond Young.

Young was drafted from Victoria as an 18-year-old and said he’d “fallen in love” with the Dockers and Perth.

“It’s super special. When I arrived at the football club, I was welcomed in really well,” he said.

“They obviously took a punt on me at pick 7 as an 18-year-old who had never travelled to Fremantle and didn’t know much about the club.

“In the five years that I’ve been here, I’ve really fallen in love, and I’m super excited that this is where I’m going to be staying for the rest of my career.

FOREVER YOUNG 💜

Hayden Young is a Fremantle Docker for life.#foreverfreopic.twitter.com/NVwfHZz0cr

— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) December 18, 2024

“I’ve settled into life in Perth, and I certainly don’t want to shift and move now that I’ve settled in.

“I’ve got a house, live near the beach – it’s a pretty good lifestyle to live.

“So to know that I’ll be here for the next nine years is a bit crazy but also super exciting. I’m stoked.

Fremantle football boss David Walls said Young, who would become a free agent at the end of his previous deal that took him to the end of 2027, was “so invested in the Fremantle Football Club”.

“He’s a young leader who helps drives standards and we couldn’t be more excited to sign him as a Docker for life,” he said.

Young has played 93 games for the Dockers since his debut in 2020.

LENGTHY AFL CONTRACTS

2032

Sam Taylor – GWS

Connor Rozee – Port Adelaide

Noah Balta – Richmond

Max King – St Kilda

Aaron Naughton – Western Bulldogs

2031

Hugh McCluggage – Brisbane

Jacob Weitering – Carlton

Brent Daniels – GWS

Nick Blakey – Sydney

2030

Isaac Cumming – Adelaide

Harry McKay – Carlton

Harry Perryman – Collingwood

Josh Daicos – Collingwood

Andrew McGrath – Essendon

Brennan Cox – Fremantle

Josh Treacy – Fremantle

Sean Darcy – Fremantle

Mac Andrew* – Gold Coast (has a trigger for another four years, ending in 2034)

Josh Battle – Hawthorn

Clayton Oliver – Melbourne

Harry Sheezel – North Melbourne

Originally published as Fremantle’s Hayden Young locked in for the next nine seasons in massive contract extension