Young managed just five matches in 2009 and 17 in 2010 before again being struck by the injury curse in 2011 where he played just 10 matches.
It was an ankle injury that curtailed his 2011 season and left many doubting whether the damaging left-footer would feature in Coach, Alastair Clarkson’s plans for 2012.
The 26-year-old was not selected for the opening two matches of the 2012 season, but earned a surprise call up for the Hawks’ Round 3 clash against the Crows where he managed 16 possessions.
It was a performance worthy of keeping his spot, and so the midfielder travelled to Perth to take on the Eagles. In that game, he managed just eight disposals and was dropped the next week.
But, with a positive attitude and desire to earn a senior recall, Young starred for Box Hill in its 36-point win over Frankston two weeks later.
It was a performance that caught Clarkson’s eye, and so Young found himself back in the Hawthorn side for its Round 7 clash against Melbourne at the MCG.
It wasn’t until the next week though, that Hawks fans were again in awe of the left-footer.
In his 100th match, Young gathered 25 possessions and kicked 1.3 in Hawthorn’s 56-point win over Fremantle.
He admits it was the turning point.
“Ever since my 100th game down in Tassie, from that point on I’ve had a pretty consistent year,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“That was a game that was a great milestone for me and it was great to have my family down in Tasmania.
“On form, that was, I guess the platform for me to have a good season and from that point on I’ve been playing my role and that’s all I have to do for the team.”
Despite the undoubted highs and lows of his career to date, it is a confident Young who speaks ahead of the preliminary final against Adelaide at the MCG.
He says despite the injuries and form slumps, he always knew he still had what it takes to have an impact at AFL level.
“I never doubted myself but it is good to be back out there and showing everyone that I can still play,” he said.
“I obviously had a few tough years and that played with my form but I knew that if I could get my body fit again and have a good pre-season, I had no doubt that I could play my role for the team.
“At the start of the year, when I wasn’t in the team and I was playing at Box Hill, I still had faith that I could get back in.
“It was only a matter of time in my opinion.”
And he was right, it was only a matter of time before he again made a mark on the AFL.
In his 18 matches this season, Young averages 18 possessions, three tackles and a goal per match.
It is arguably the Hawks’ mantra, “know your role, play your role” that has taken the pressure off the midfielder, who admitted he felt the pinch early this season.
“I was probably putting too much pressure on myself at the start of the season to really prove myself again,” he said.
“Once I took my mind off doing too much and focused on doing my role for the team, that’s when it started to be easier for me to find some form.
“I don’t have to kick three goals, I don’t have to do anything special, but if I’m linking up, getting it down to the forwards and playing my role, that’s all I have to do to do my part.
“As long as the coaches are happy and I’m doing my best, then that’s all I can do.”
With the Hawks just one win away from making the grand final, it’s hard not to compare the Hawks of 2012 with the premiership side of 2008.
Young wouldn’t be drawn into the comparison though, instead choosing to focus on what lied ahead.
“This season we’ve had a new wave of younger players coming through and playing their role and that happened in 2008 but it’s hard to compare teams,” he said.
“We’ve definitely played well in the second half of the year but we’ve still got to get through Adelaide.
“There’s still work to do.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club's Digital Media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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