Playing in just his second game back from a significant hamstring injury, Hayden Young has secured a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after his performance against Richmond at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
The exciting Fremantle defender smashed his previous career-best of 19 disposals with 23 touches and a team-high nine intercepts.
Young also went at 91 per cent disposal efficiency, had six score involvements and 310 metres gained for the match.
Hayden Young with a brilliant gutsy kick into the middle of the ground with the game on the line?
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) August 2, 2021
We think we've seen this before... #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/3QtwFXcdvu
In just his 10th career game, Young was crucial down back alongside Luke Ryan and Griffin Logue as they came up against a Tigers forward line boasting the likes of Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch.
Young felt the nomination was great recognition for his hard work to get back to playing football after two injury-interrupted seasons.
“It’s a great honour, it’s been a challenging couple of years for me with a few injuries, but it’s great recognition for all the hard work I have put in to get myself back on the park,” Young said.
“I spent a couple weeks in the WAFL which I really enjoyed, and I felt my body really needed that just to get used to playing footy again.
“I’m starting to feel pretty comfortable and confident with my body out on the field.
“It’s a credit to the strength and conditioning staff and the physios that have put a lot of work in to help me with my rehab and get my body right.
“I’m just glad to be back playing footy and enjoying it.”
The final moments of the round 20 clash resulted in a tense finish, with Freo getting over the line by four points against the reigning premiers.
Young said he was proud of the way the young group stood up to the Tigers pressure late in the game.
“It was pretty intense, it was a great game,” Young said.
“We know they (the Tigers) were going to keep coming, which they did early in that last quarter.
“We really stuck it out and a few of our key players like Andy Brayshaw and Sean Darcy really stood up late and we were able to come away with the win which was super for our group.
“It just shows that we are building towards something special.”
Young credited last year’s Rising Star winner and close friend Caleb Serong for ‘setting the benchmark’, and was excited to now join Serong with a nomination for the prestigious award.
“It’s good for the both of us, and good for the Club,” Young said.
“Caleb has had a great start and he has sort of set the benchmark for me.
“He has really good standards on the training track and his performances back that up.
“It’s really good that we both have a nomination now, he obviously won it last year, but it is a good thing for the Club.”
