Bill Young (Australian rules footballer)

For the Claremont footballer, later a member of parliament in Western Australia, see Bill Young (Australian politician).

Bill Young
Personal information
Date of birth	(1931-06-06) 6 June 1931
Original team(s)	Stratford
Debut	Round 3, 1956, St Kilda v. Carlton, at Junction Oval
Height/Weight	179 cm (5ft 10½ in) / 73 kg (11 st 7 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1956–1961	St Kilda	94 (274)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1961 season.
Career highlights
VFL Leading Goal-kicker 1956 (56 goals) Victorian B team representative 1959

William D. "Bill" Young (born 6 June 1931) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Young was an all-round sportsman—a top goal scorer in country football; a cricketer who once top-scored for a Victorian country team against England; he was also a well-performed track cyclist, represented Country Victoria in tennis and later in life was an A-grade squash player. He is widely regarded as the best all-round sportsman to come out of Gippsland

In 1948, 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955 Young was leading goalkicker in the Gippsland Football League, kicking 160 goals in 1954 and 136 in 1955. His best efforts were 26 goals in a game in 1950 and 22 in 1954.

Young debuted aged of 25 with St Kilda Football Club a full forward kicking 56 goals in his debut year, winning the VFL's Leading Goalkicker award.

He was also St Kilda's leading goal-kicker from 1956 to 1960.

Blair Campbell credited him with inventing the reverse punt shot at goal (he was most certainly the first VFL player to do so).

Young was rather frail for a VFL full-forward and under 6ft, but he used his leap well to mark over-head and was a deadly accurate kick for goal.

References

• Bill Young's statistics from AFL Tables
• St Kilda Hall of Fame Profile
• Saints honour roll