Gus Young
Hawthorn
AFL career
10 games5 goals
- Debut
- R13 1939 v NTH15 July 1939
- Most recent
- R11 1940 v COL6 July 1940
Stats
Bio
Born in Heyfield and recruited from Maffra in the Gippsland region, Leo "Gus" Young was a promising tall forward who joined Hawthorn during the club's "Mayblooms" era. Standing 183cm, he was considered a strong aerial target and a physically imposing figure due to his trade as a butcher, showing immediate potential upon his VFL debut in 1939. His football journey was abruptly halted by the outbreak of World War II, as he enlisted in the AIF after just 10 senior games. Young served as a bombardier with the 2/3 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment but was tragically killed in action during the Battle of Crete in 1941 when the destroyer HMS Hereward was sunk by enemy bombers. Today, he is remembered less for his on-field statistics and more as one of the gallant VFL players who paid the ultimate price serving their country.
Profile
- Born
- 18 May 1915
- Died
- 29 May 1941 (aged 26y 11d)
- Birthplace
- Heyfield, VIC
- Deathplace
- Sea of Crete, Greece
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 78 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionBorn in Heyfield and recruited from Maffra in the Gippsland region, Leo "Gus" Young was a promising tall forward who joined Hawthorn during the club's "Mayblooms" era. Standing 183cm, he was considered a strong aerial target and a physically imposing figure due to his trade as a butcher, showing immediate potential upon his VFL debut in 1939. His football journey was abruptly halted by the outbreak of World War II, as he enlisted in the AIF after just 10 senior games. Young served as a bombardier with the 2/3 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment but was tragically killed in action during the Battle of Crete in 1941 when the destroyer HMS Hereward was sunk by enemy bombers. Today, he is remembered less for his on-field statistics and more as one of the gallant VFL players who paid the ultimate price serving their country.