Clinton Young Biography

Clinton Young has announces his retirement, posting the news and his thanks to fans through his Twitter account.

Young had previously been delisted by the Magpies in September.

Drafted by the Hawks as a rookie in 2005, Young reached the pinnacle of his career as an important part of their 2008 premiership side.

He moved to Collingwood in 2012 as un unrestricted free agent, but managed only 21 games over three seasons with the Pies due to injury and a drop in form, ultimately unable to manage a senior appearance in 2015.

"After 11 seasons and 137 games for 2 great clubs, today I'm announcing my retirement from the AFL.Thanks for the support and great memories," Young tweeted.

Collingwood has delisted a further four players with Hawthorn premiership player Clinton Young and journeyman midfielder Sam Dwyer headlining the club's list changes.

The Magpies have also decided to release rookies Tony Armstrong and Michael Tanteit, while Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas have been let go as part of their two-year suspensions for taking banned drug clenbuterol.

Scott Pendlebury will again captain the Magpies in 2015, supported by a streamlined leadership group that includes Travis Cloke, Steele Sidebottom, Nathan Brown and the newly promoted Tyson Goldsack.

Lachlan Keeffe and Clinton Young have stepped down as leaders this year.

"They're five very strong leaders, they're all premiership players and they all know what it takes to get there," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"We want to get back into finals and clearly that's the ambition of all these boys.

"When the players went through the selection process there was a fairly clear delineation between the top five and the rest.

"We feel that we've really developed our leadership over the last couple of years and the vindication of that is the strength of this leadership group, even with players like Luke Ball and Nick Maxwell moving on from the football club."

After one and a half years since crossing over to Collingwood from Hawthorn, Clinton Young will finally line up against his former side.

"I was more of an observer last year unfortunately, but this year I feel really part of it," Young said

"It's been a year and half since I made the move, and it's my first experience against them. If we can get the win it would be icing on the cake."

Young has played 11 of 12 this season, averaging 18.4 disposals and a career high 3.3 tackles per game.

"It comes down to having a good pre-season. I've been up and going since November and things have been going well," Young said.

"Being part of the team week after week has been good, and it's great to share some knowledge with some of the young players coming through."

Clinton Young believes he's finally found his feet at Collingwood and says he wants to finish his career as a Magpie.

"Absolutely, I'm loving it here," Young said.

"I think it's taken me a while to adapt to week-in, week-out with the boys. But it's good to be covering the ground and running well, so that's why I'm getting a few more touches.

"I've always been a link-up player, so if I can run hard, get the ball and get it down to the forwards, that's my role."

Clinton Young has declared himself fit to take part in the NAB Challenge series starting next month.

"It was obviously a frustrating season last year. But throughout the pre-season I've really attacked it and things are going well for the season ahead," Young said.

"The hamstring's been good. It was a bit slow at the start of the pre-season, but since sort of the end of December [I've been] doing full training."

Clinton Young is facing a month on the sidelines after re-injuring his hamstring against Adelaide.

"Shattering to hurt my hammy in the last minute of the game last night, atleast a month on the sidelines. Thanks for all the kind messages," Young tweeted.

In just his second match for the Magpies, Clinton Young finishes the game with ice on his hamstring after straining it during a chase in the dying minutes of the final quarter against the Crows.

"He's an experienced player and he knows his body pretty well, and he doesn't like what it feels like," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said after the match.

"We haven't got any confirmation, but clearly he was quite disappointed at the end of the match."

Clinton Young injures his hamstring during a VFL match.

Magpie recruit Clinton Young will miss Collingwood's round one clash against North Melbourne after having a foot operation to start pre-season.

Collingwood recruit Clinton Young says losing last year's Grand Final with Hawthorn has been a source of motivation for him this year.

"Losing a Grand Final is pretty hard, and that will certainly motivate me more this year," Young said.

"I went through the review process a few days after the game at Hawthorn, but since then I've tried to completely forget about it, really, other than using it as motivation for this season.

"I'll be doing everything I can to make Collingwood a better team."

Clinton Young agress to a three-year deal with Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent.

"There were a lot of things to consider. Certainly there wasn't one thing that made it easy but for many reasons it was a tough decision," Young said.

"There's a lot of great people at Hawthorn. I spent eight years there, I have many friends so it's very tough moving away from that.

"For me going forward, this is the best decision and I'm looking forward to playing at Collingwood."

Magpies believe Clinton Young is unhappy with Hawthorn's contract offer as it looks to lure the wingman.

"I understand, and I don't really know, that apparently the offer they've made to recontract him is something his management is not entirely happy with," Collingwood director of football Geoff Walsh said.

"Notwithstanding that, 10 years at one club and a successful club, and their window is still well and truly open, it's a big call to say I'm moving on.

"That will be the issue with him."

The Brisbane Lions say they will target Brent Moloney or Clinton Young if their bid for Kurt Tippett fails.

"We would like to bring one mature body to the group. If it doesn't go our way with Kurt, we'll reassess our position," Lions national talent manager Rob Kerr said.

"If that's the path we go down, we'll certainly revisit it and have a look at Brent or a Clinton Young for example.

"They're the type of players we'd have to look at. The added attraction is they're free agents and don't cost you a draft pick."

Clinton Young has finally shed the injury troubles that plagued him 2011 and is again becoming a damaging wingman for the Hawks.

"It was a disappointing and very frustrating year last year, through both form and injury," Young said.

"There were certainly times when it felt like I was trying to do what was right for the team, and I either wasn't getting much of the footy or I was making a few mistakes.

"But I've put that all behind me now, and it was good to have a good pre-season, and now it's paying dividends."

Marking his 100th match was a celebration for Hawk Clinton Young, and for his younger brother Lachlan who had travelled south to Launceston with his parents to take part in Clint's milestone day.

"I had my family down and it was a special moment," Young said.

"Lachie ran through the banner and sang the song, it was a special moment. He ran through the banner for my 50th, but he had a dream to sing the song after a win. I'm sure he'll be telling his friends back home about that for a while."

"For him to experience moments like that it's pretty special for me and the family."

Clinton Young makes his long-awaited return to the Hawthorn side, playing for the Hawks in a loss against the Magpies.

"I would've liked to have played a little better but I got through the game well," Young said.

"There were a few nerves before the game, it's been a while since I played in front of a big crowd and I'm still a bit behind on fitness but I'm catching up.

Hawk midfielder Clinton Young's future is in doubt due to a hip injury.

"It depends on the extent of the damage and the key to it is how much damage there is to the lining of the joint," Dr Peter Brukner said.

"Some are chronic injuries because if the cartilage of the joint is damaged, then you're going to have ongoing problems and we don't have a way of curing that."

Premiership wingman Clinton Young has swelled Hawthorn's alarming list of key players with suspensions hanging over them.

Hawthorn premiership wingman Clinton Young and Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop have both accepted reprimands after being charged with rough conduct by the AFL match review panel.

Hawthorn's Clint Young and Port Adelaide's Daniel Motlop have escaped suspension for incidents during the weekend's matches.