Henry Young (footballer)

Henry "Tracker" Young (18 May 1873 – 9 January 1923) was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Young was an outstanding ruckman who was allegedly never beaten in a game. Tracker was recruited from Wellington, a local team and first played in the Victorian Football Association days. A successful participant in numerous sports he was master of them all. He commanded respect whether it was on the football field, the boxing ring, riding in the Melbourne to Warrnambool road race, or rowing on Corio Bay.

A supremely athletic and fit person, it allowed him to ruck for four quarters, often brilliantly and with a dominating effect on his opponents, such was the consistency of his play the opposing rovers tried to feed off his hit outs. Strong and courageous, and a magnificent high mark he displayed a cool temperament and always at the forefront of protecting his teammates with effective shepherding.

Tracker sustained serious injury problems in 1898 and 1899, which precluded him from playing 200 games, however he made a strong comeback and throughout his career provided tremendous service and was inspirational to his teammates as club captain (137 games as captain).

In 1996, Young was named in the Geelong Football Club Team of the Century as well as be inducted to the AFL Hall of Fame. Tracker also won the Geelong Best and Fairest Award (pre-Carji Greeves Medal) in 1905 and 1906.

Tracker's fitness was that impressive that it is well known that he ran 30 plus kilometers along the beach to the game, play four quarters in the ruck and then ran 30 kilometers back home.

References

• Ross, John (1999). The Australian Football Hall of Fame. Australia: HarperCollinsPublishers. pp. 139. ISBN 0-7322-6426-X. 
• AFL Hall of Fame