The death of Henry Young
Few better all-round athletes have ever been produced in this country than Henry Young, Geelong's champion, who died from heart failure yesterday morning after having his daily swim at the Eastern Baths.
When only a lad Young showed promise of being a great sportsman. He was a powerfully built boy, and had no difficulty in holding his own with others of his own age at all manly sports.
'Tracker," as he was fondly called, first took the field with Geelong as a footballer when he was quite, a lad. He served the Geelong Club for 21 years on the football field, and won distinctions that few footballers have gained. For 12 years he captained and coached the Geelong team with a firmness that some people were apt to consider haughtiness. His football was characterised by a determination that was the despair of many a strong opponent. Being some 6 feet in height and turning the scale at over 14 stone, he was a very powerful ruck man, who could use his weight fairly, and to advantage.
When Hughie James first played with Richmond, Young was in his prime. James attempted to bump Young down on the Richmond ground; but the Geelong skipper turned round quickly and hurled Hughie about four or five yards away in the mud.
In 1908 Young captained the Victorian carnival team, which was successful in defeating South Australia, West Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and New Zealand. He was nearly 40 years of age before he ceased to play nine years ago.
Favorite of the "Old Brigade"
'Tracker' was a great believer in every player keeping himself in the best condition. Although a hard and firm captain,, he was kind in his actions, and would help any willing youngster. He was mainly responsible for making Alex Eason the brilliant rover he is today. Eason told me that he had never seen such a powerful player take knocks and give them like Young.
With the older brigade, he was very popular, and whenever a Melbourne League team visited Geelong there were always several former players and officials who found time to get round to the Britannia Hotel, of which he was licensee, and talk over the "good old days." I had occasion to speak to him not long ago, and he told me that if a man lived a clean life he could not go far wrong on either the football field or in everyday life.
As a swimmer Young was good, and although he was never very fast in the water, his powerful frame and constitution enabled him to move well and swim for long distances without tiring. With the oar he was also an able man, and for 30 years, he was a member of the Como Bay Rowing Club. So highly did the Geelong College people think of him as a man and an oarsman that they chose him to coach the school crews for the Head of the River races some years ago. At boxing, too, he put up some fine performances against skilful opponents.
Truly, a great sportsman has gone.
Footnotes
Title: An old-time champion."Tracker" Young's career. Author: "Cover-Point" in the "Herald" Publisher: The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882-1950) Date: Thursday, 18 January 1923 (Third edition), p.2 (Article). Web:http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/82513384
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