The 26 year-old 2008 premiership wingman informed Collingwood on Thursday night of his decision to accept a three year offer from the club, a move that brings to an end a highly successful 116-game, eight year career with the Hawks.
Watch Clinton Young at his best in our CTV highlights package in the video above.
“Clinton carries the football well, covers the ground and kicks with precision over distance with that left foot of his,” Collingwood director of football, Geoff Walsh, said.
“We’ve wanted to improve in that area, wanted to improve our transition from defence to attack and sharpen up our delivery inside 50 and we think Clinton will certainly help in those regards. We’re very pleased he has decided to join us.”
Young played 20 games for the Hawks in 2012, the last of them being the Grand Final against Sydney. He averaged 18 possessions across the season but significantly was among a select group of players renowned for the territory gained with each touch.
Young is the second unrestricted free agent Collingwood has recruited in the free agency/trade period to date. The club earlier signed former West Coast key forward Quinten Lynch.
In all, Collingwood has traded Chris Dawes and pick 58 to Melbourne for picks 20 and 45 and released Sharrod Wellingham to West Coast in exchange for pick 17, for a net return of two players (Young and Lynch) and two first round draft selections in next month’s national draft.
Update - 6:20pm: After the AFL released notice of its Free Agency compensation, which saw St Kilda awarded the 13th selection in the November National Draft as a result of Brendon Goddard's switch to Essendon, Collingwood's No. 17 selection (received in exchange for Wellingham) has been bumped to No. 18.
At present Collingwood has three first round selections (18, 19 and 21) and five of the first 50 picks.
Recap Collingwood's off-season movements and view the order of the 2012 NAB AFL National Draft on collingwoodfc.com.au.
