Barwon Heads-aligned Werribee forward Flynn Young will get the chance to live his AFL dream after joining Carlton via the mid-season rookie draft.
The Blues pounced on the 23-year-old with pick four on Wednesday night after continuing to impress with the reigning VFL premier.
“Flynn has gone from strength to strength in the last little while, and we couldn’t be happier to bring him to the football club,” Blues list boss Nick Austin said.
“At 23 years of age, it hasn’t been the conventional path to the elite level for Flynn – what he has shown in his time at Werribee is his appetite for getting the best out of himself and leaving no stone unturned.
“He’s produced some big moments in some big finals at VFL level, and we think he offers something different as a dynamic player in the front half.
“He can play multiple roles, he backs in his ball use and he’s a threat in the air and on the ground: we’re excited to see what he can produce at our footy club.”
Young started his football journey with Ocean Grove Collendina Cobras at under-10 level, and spent most of his junior days at Barwon Heads, with stints also at St Joseph’s and Newtown & Chilwell.
He made four appearances as a 19-year-old with the Geelong Falcons during the Covid-impacted 2021 season, while also making his senior debut with the Seagulls.
Young joined GFNL club Grovedale the following year, kicking 31 goals, to go with a lone appearance for Werribee.
He returned to the Towners in 2023, kicking 18 goals from 15 games, and again playing one game for the Bees.
However, it was early last year when Young started to turn heads.
Twenty-one goals in the opening four games led to a Werribee recall and resulted in him playing in the Bees’ first flag since 1993.
Young changed his interchange club to Barwon Heads for this season, but due to his form in the VFL he didn’t make an appearance for the Seagulls.
He’s averaged 15.1 disposals, 6.7 marks, and 1.5 goals in eight games.
Meanwhile, Colac-aligned Oskar Smartt has joined Essendon with pick 17.
From northern Victoria, Smartt, who kicked two goals in the Opening Round win over Bell Park, is the nephew of current Tiger Kane.
X: @krockfootball
