Garry Young

Recruited from Stratford in Gippsland, Garry Young broke into the Hawthorn senior side as a 16-year-old schoolboy in 1956. He quickly established himself as a dangerous half-forward who could rotate through full-forward, possessing a sharp goal sense that saw him top the club's goalkicking table in both 1959 and 1960. His ability to find space and convert opportunities made him a key component of the Hawks' attacking structure as the club rose from persistent cellar dwellers to genuine contenders under the guidance of John Kennedy Sr.

Young's career highlight came in 1961, where he played an instrumental role in Hawthorn's maiden premiership victory over Footscray, contributing two goals from a half-forward flank in the Grand Final. Despite his early promise and consistency in front of goal, injuries and increasing competition for spots limited his continuity in the latter stages of his tenure at Glenferrie Oval. After ten seasons and over a century of games in the brown and gold, he departed the VFL at the end of 1965 to captain-coach Mordialloc in the VFA.