CLINTON Young became a favourite at Hawthorn during the 2008 season, as his dash and long penetrating kick played a key role in the Hawks' march to the flag.

But since an ankle injury halted his starring role in that famous Grand Final win over Geelong (he has sometimes been rated as 'the half-time Norm Smith medallist'), the wingman has endured a string of injuries that have slowed his progress.

This season, after what he describes as his best pre-season in years, Young is back breaking lines for the Hawks.

The 26-year-old has been given a license to kick by his coaches, and he's been happy to use it.

He celebrated his 100th AFL game with a best on ground performance in the 56-point win over Fremantle last Saturday, collecting 20 kicks and only five handballs, booting a goal and sending the ball inside attacking 50 a game-high 11 times.

"I've been given a license to run more and to use my kick a lot more, so that's definitely playing to my strengths," Young told hawthornfc.com.au this week.

"The coaches definitely prefer me to have stats like that than half kicks and half handballs."

Young's change in fortune has been a long time coming.

After the injury in the 2008 Grand Final, he did a lot of running the following pre-season.

That took its toll on his groins, and he battled through the first five games of the 2009 season before he could take the pain no more.

Surgery to fix groins, pelvis and hips followed, and the recovery from one injury would lead to the development of another problem.

Last year, Young managed 10 senior games, but was dropped after the round 16 win over the Brisbane Lions.

He then hurt his ankle playing for Box Hill at VFL level, putting an end to another season.

It is a year he looks back on with few positive memories.

"It was a disappointing and very frustrating year last year, through both form and injury," the damaging left-footer said.

"There were certainly times when it felt like I was trying to do what was right for the team, and I either wasn't getting much of the footy or I was making a few mistakes.

"I just wasn't playing well enough.

"With the couple of injuries I was having, I was battling to try and find my form and confidence.

"But I've put that all behind me now, and it was good to have a good pre-season, and now it's paying dividends."

The emergence of talented young midfielders such as Liam Shiels, Shane Savage and Isaac Smith meant 2012 was crunch-time for Young.

But his form in the past fortnight has been a timely reminder of the value he offers to the Hawthorn line-up.

Along with Smith and Savage, the Hawks have a trio of wingmen capable of finding space and carrying the ball. To a team whose pace has sometimes been questioned, they offer genuine speed.

Midfielder Brad Sewell noted as much this week.

"I think we've got a pretty good mix [in the midfield] at the moment of inside and outside guys," Sewell said.

"It's really important for us to ensure that we have those guys (Young, Smith and Savage) contributing, and we certainly saw the impact that they can have on the weekend."

Young's parents, brother Lachie and girlfriend Louise all travelled to Launceston for his 100th game, with Lachie - who has Down syndrome - leading the team out and joining in the team song afterwards.

The group stayed the night in Tasmania to mark the occasion.

"My career for the first few years was moving upwards," Young said.

"Up to the Grand Final I'd had four years of building, and things were looking good.

"But injuries definitely hit me hard for a couple of years.

"That makes it probably even more special to make the 100, with the challenges I've had.

"To celebrate it with family, who have supported me all the way through, was very special."