BIO

A cool and canny half-forward flanker with an accurate left foot, Doug Young would train with Wilkawatt in the Murray Mallee during the week and drive to Adelaide each Friday night to play with Norwood.  He did this for six years and played in two grand finals under coaches Jack Oatey and Haydn Bunton. He caught the eye of Norwood recruiters when Wilkawatt won three premierships in a row.  

After Norwood, he was captain-coach of Wilkawatt for three more grand finals and another flag.  Douglas Charles Young was born at Lameroo on 1st May 1931.  He won a scholarship to  Prince Alfred College, where he excelled at football and tennis. 

He won the SA Lawn Tennis Association age championship singles in the under-13, 14, 15, 16 and 18s, and the boys' doubles in the same years. He was captain of the SA Linton Cup team for two years and played Ken Rosewall. He played in two Australian Opens.  He had blistered hands from sewing wheat bags when Lew Hoad beat him 6-3, 7-5 in a junior singles quarter-final at Kooyong. 

Doug won the Country Carnival at Memorial Drive four times: 1957-59 and 1974. 

Gentleman Doug established a Wilkie Dorset sheep stud at the family farm. He died at Lameroo on 14th November 2011, survived by Jean and six children.

P Robins July 2015