Hayden Young's hamstring setback: 'One of those ones that doesn't make sense'

Key facts

• Young sustained a hamstring injury in Round 8 loss to St Kilda.
• This is the third occurrence on his right hamstring.
• Young had a leg fracture in Fremantle's final game of 2024.
• He suffered bone bruising pre-Christmas on the same leg.
• Young kicked three gamebreaking goals in Round 6 win over Western Bulldogs.
• Coach Justin Longmuir insists Young belongs in midfield, not half-back.
• Fremantle sits outright top two after Round 8.
• Caleb Serong said he wanted 'to cry for him' after the injury.

Another injury blow for Young

Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young is reportedly set for surgery on a hamstring injury sustained during the Dockers' Round 8 loss to St Kilda. The setback marks the third time Young has injured his right hamstring, raising serious concerns about his availability for the remainder of the 2025 season. Young's year has been plagued by persistent soft-tissue problems, and this latest episode could put his campaign in jeopardy. The club is expected to release more details on Tuesday, along with other injury updates ahead of Round 9.

A pattern of recurring injuries

The 23-year-old left-footer has now suffered three hamstring injuries on the same right leg, a worrying trend for a player already battling a history of lower-body issues. In Fremantle's final game of 2024, Young fractured his leg, an injury that required careful rehabilitation. During the pre-Christmas break, he copped a 'really nasty' knock to the same bone, causing him to fear a second fracture. 'It was tricky because when I did it the first time I didn't think I'd broken it, I thought I just had a corky, so yeah this time it was a little bit scary,' Young said at the time. Scans later revealed only bone bruising, but the incident delayed his return to full training.

Teammate's emotional reaction

Fremantle vice-captain Caleb Serong expressed deep disappointment over Young's latest injury, saying he wanted 'to cry for him' once he heard the news. 'It was tough. He's a tough bugger though. He'll continue to work and get himself back out there,' Serong said. 'It's just really frustrating, these recurring injuries are really disheartening when you do everything you can to get back, and it happens again. He's one you can never question his professionalism, and never question his preparation. It's one of those ones that doesn't make sense.'

Young's midfield role justified by match-winning heroics

Despite his injury woes, Young has demonstrated why coach Justin Longmuir keeps him in the midfield rather than moving him to half-back. In Fremantle's Round 6 win over the Western Bulldogs, Young kicked three gamebreaking goals in the second half, including two in less than two minutes during the third term and an extraordinary banana goal from the forward pocket in the final quarter. Longmuir was emphatic about Young's role: 'I get asked why we don't play him at half back. That's why we don't play him at half back. Because when he gets on a tear like that, and he gets the ball forward of centre, you see what he is able to do. It was good for him and good for us that he got a lick of the ice cream.'

Dockers' form and concerns

Fremantle's win over the Bulldogs was their seventh in a row, lifting them to an outright top-two position after Hawthorn's draw in Round 8. The Dockers came from behind to win 17.12 (114) to 15.12 (102), recovering from a poor first half that Longmuir described as 'horrific'. However, Longmuir warned that his team cannot continue to let opponents fight back late in games. 'We're struggling at the moment when we get in front. We handle the tight moments. When there's a goal in it, we handle those moments really well. But we need to be able to be better than that. We shouldn't let them back in the game. There's a couple of things we can be a bit more mature with and not allow that to happen.'

Outlook for Young and Fremantle

Young's surgery and recovery timeline remain unclear, but the recurrence of his hamstring injury suggests a cautious approach may be required. Having played only 13 games across the last two seasons due to injury, Young's durability is now a significant concern for Fremantle. The Dockers, who have relied on Young's midfield spark and Shai Bolton's form, will need to adjust their lineup if Young is sidelined for an extended period. Bolton, who had 11 disposals, five clearances and a goal in the final quarter against the Bulldogs, has been a key contributor, but the team's depth will be tested.

The bottom line

• Hayden Young is set for surgery on his right hamstring after a third recurrence of the injury.
• Young's 2025 season is in jeopardy due to persistent soft-tissue problems.
• Teammate Caleb Serong expressed deep frustration, calling the situation 'one that doesn't make sense.'
• Coach Justin Longmuir has firmly committed to playing Young in the midfield, citing his match-winning ability.
• Fremantle sits top two after Round 8 but has conceded late leads, a trend Longmuir wants to correct.
• Young's injury history includes a leg fracture in 2024 and a pre-Christmas bone bruising scare.