Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir has declared he has no concerns for young gun Hayden Young despite the midfielder suffering another injury setback that will sideline him for several weeks.
Young sidelined with calf issue
The 22-year-old, who has been plagued by soft-tissue injuries in recent seasons, was withdrawn from the Dockers' clash with Port Adelaide after experiencing calf tightness during the warm-up. It is the latest in a string of setbacks for the highly-rated prospect, who missed significant chunks of the 2023 campaign with hamstring and quad issues.
Longmuir said the club would take a cautious approach with Young, but stressed he was not concerned about the player's long-term prospects.
"We're not overly worried about Hayden," Longmuir told reporters on Thursday. "He's had a bit of a run of soft-tissue issues, but we're confident we can get on top of them. He's a resilient kid and he'll bounce back."
Injury history
Young, who was taken with pick No. 7 in the 2020 national draft, has played 48 games for Fremantle since his debut in 2021. However, his career has been interrupted by a series of injuries, including a hamstring strain that kept him out for six weeks last season and a quad issue that sidelined him for a further month.
The Dockers have been managing Young's workload carefully, but the latest setback is a blow for a player who had been showing promising form in the midfield. Longmuir said the club would not rush Young back and would ensure he was fully fit before returning to the field.
"We'll take a long-term view with Hayden," Longmuir said. "He's an important part of our future, so we'll make sure we get him right before he plays again."
Dockers' midfield depth tested
Young's absence will test Fremantle's midfield depth, with the Dockers already missing star on-baller Andrew Brayshaw due to suspension. Nat Fyfe is also working his way back from a foot injury, while Caleb Serong has been carrying a heavy load in the engine room.
Longmuir said he was confident the Dockers had the personnel to cover Young's absence, pointing to the likes of James Aish, Liam Henry and Matthew Johnson as players who could step up.
"We've got good depth in our midfield group," he said. "It's an opportunity for some other guys to come in and make a statement."
The Dockers will face Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, with Young's spot in the side likely to be taken by either Aish or Henry.
