Aaron Young (footballer)

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}

{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Aaron Young

| image = Aaron Young 2018.5.jpg

| caption = Young playing for Gold Coast in August 2018

| fullname = Aaron Young

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|12|06|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Eastern Ranges (TAC Cup)

| draftpick = No. 36, 2010 national draft

| height = 188 cm

| weight = 75 kg

| position = Forward

| currentclub = {{AFL GC}}

| guernsey = 15

| years1 = 2012–2017

| club1 = {{AFL PA}}

| games_goals1 = 76 (62)

| years2 = 2018-2019

| club2 = {{AFL GC}}

| games_goals2 = 24 (21)

| games_goalstotal = 100 (83)

| statsend = 2019

| careerhighlights = *Magarey Medal: 2022 (SANFL)

}}

Aaron Young (born 6 December 1992) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was originally drafted by the Port Adelaide Football Club{{cite web|title=118 players with multicultural background on AFL lists|url=http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20120625165155432|website=World Footy News |date=25 June 2012}} with pick number 36 in the 2010 national draft, having previously played for the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup. He made his debut in round 5, 2012, against {{AFL Ade}} at Football Park in Showdown XXXII.{{cite web|title=Power opts for Young teenage debutant|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/power-opts-for-young-teenage-debutant/story-e6freco3-1226341043702|author=Rucci, Michaelangelo|date=27 April 2012|publisher=AdelaideNow|access-date=29 April 2012}}

Early in his career, Young was used heavily as a substitute player. Already difficult to match up on due to his height and pace, Young would come on as a substitute later in the game and take advantage of his speed and fresh legs. Young started 21 of his first 42 games wearing the green substitute vest, the most starts as substitute for any player.{{cite web|title=Aaron Young the biggest winner of AFL sub rule scrapping|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/aaron-young-the-biggest-winner-of-afl-sub-rule-scrapping-a-port-adelaide-shining-light-in-2016/news-story/94aae31372b4d028bc83b73e5b326c2b|author=Waterworth, Ben|date=15 April 2016|work=Fox Sports|access-date=20 July 2020}}

The substitute rule was scrapped in 2016 and that same year Young had a breakout season playing 21 games and kicking 37 goals; one goal less than Port's leading goal kicker Chad Wingard.

Young struggled to get a regular game in 2017, and at the end of that season was traded to the Gold Coast Football Club.{{cite web|title=Young Sun: Gold Coast signs Power forward|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-19/young-sun-gold-coast-signs-power-forward|last=Gaskin|first=Lee|date=19 October 2017|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=19 October 2017}}

Young played 22 games and kicked 20 goals in his first season at the Suns. An injury plagued season in 2019 saw Young delisted. In 2020 Young joined the Aspley Football Club in the NEAFL.{{cite web|title=Former Gold Coast midfielder Aaron Young lands at Aspley|url=https://www.neafl.com.au/news/former-gold-coast-midfielder-aaron-young-lands-at-aspley-046070|author=Webster, Jess|date=4 December 2019|publisher=NEAFL|access-date=20 July 2020}}

In November 2020, Young signed with SANFL club North Adelaide and has been a standout in the Roosters' midfield.

In 2022, Young won the Magarey Medal as the Best & Fairest player overall in the SANFL. He finished on 23 votes, 1 vote ahead of the next best.