|
|
|
|
home
|
|
Finals flashbacks
by PAUL DAFFEYSEPTEMBER is known as the month when the best footballers shine. Occasionally, however, finals football throws up some unlikely heroes. One such case was Barry Young, the former defender who began his career at Richmond before moving on to Essendon in 1994. Young's first, and most notable, final was at Waverley Park in 1995. Under the final-eight system of the time, fourth was drawn to play fifth in the first week of the finals; Essendon was hosting West Coast. Young, who was then 25 years of age, started his finals debut on the bench. A feature of the first quarter was the performance of 19-year-old West Coast half-forward Fraser Gehrig on loose-checking defender Gavin Wanganeen. At quarter-time, Young was sent on to Gehrig with instructions to keep him quiet. His plan was to do so by upsetting his teenaged opponent. For the opening three or four minutes, Young repeated a threat along the lines of promising Gehrig that he would belt him senseless if he went near the ball. Speaking yesterday from his factory in Bayswater, where his company makes quilts, underlays and pillows, Young his armoury of tactics included sharp little jabs. "Just little rib punches," he said. "The sort of stuff you used to be able to get away with. "Fraser was just a kid. He didn't know he to react. By half-time, I reckon I had him." At the conclusion of the game, which Essendon won by 19 points, Young was showered with praise for a performance in which he not only shut down Gehrig, but gained plenty of possessions himself. Several commentators named him best on ground. The following week, in the first semi-final against Richmond, Young began in the centre square. So excited was he by his promotion that he picked up half a dozen possessions in the opening minutes. At the 10-minute mar, his glorious run ended when he broke his ankle. In 1996, Young again enjoyed success in the finals, playing strong games in a semi-final victory over West Coast and in the infamous one-point loss to Sydney at the SCG. During the interview for this article, it's clear that Young rates his performance on Sydney's Craig O'Brien in that preliminary final just behind his 1995 final against West Coast. After his best season with the Bombers, in 1999, Young was offered only a one-year contract. He held out for a two-year deal, but the Bombers stood their ground and eventually traded him to Hawthorn. After relishing playing in finals with Essendon, Young missed out on playing in the club's all-conquering 2000 premiership team. "It was the biggest regret of my career," he said. "I should have taken the one-year deal." This article first appeared in The Age on 7 September 2006 30 September 2006 |
|
australianrules.com.au |
|
Disclaimer |
© 2001-2008 australianrules.com.au |