WHEN Minyip footballer Clinton Young takes the field for Hawthorn in tomorrow's AFL grand final, his family will be with him every step of the way.
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The Young family packed their car and headed for Melbourne on Thursday to see Clinton play in his second grand final.
Clinton's mum and dad, Bev and Laurie, along with five brothers, Gavin, 35, Jarrod, 33, Mitchell, 24, Lachlan, 19, and Blake, 17, will proudly wear the brown and gold stripes and take to the stands of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It was be an action-packed few days for the Young family, including the Hawks' training, the grand final parade, the big game tomorrow, followed by a post-match dinner.
Young has put a frustrating few seasons behind him to cement his spot in the Hawks' best 22.
His ankle, groin, hip and hamstring problems seem a thing of the past, with his raking left boot looking as dangerous as ever.
He has been an integral part of Hawthorn's charge towards September, averaging 17 touches and booting 13 goals from the midfield.
Young reached a special milestone earlier in the season, playing his 100th AFL match in round eight against Fremantle in Launceston, Tasmania. His younger brother Lachlan ran out onto the field with him and sang the club song in the rooms after the match.
Bev Young said despite watching him be a part of Hawthorn's winning grand final in 2008, it wouldn't be any easier the second time around. "I was very nervous during the 2008 grand final and I'm sure I'll be exactly the same on the weekend," she said.
Laurie Young said they last spoke to Clinton after last weekend's heart-stopping five-point preliminary final win over Adelaide.
"I think the whole team was just excited to make it into the grand final after their last match," he said. "We're just all really happy for him to make one grand final is amazing, let alone two."
Younger sibling Blake, 17, is striving to follow in Clinton's footsteps.
After an impressive 2012 season with Minyip-Murtoa, Blake is a chance to make it in the North Ballarat Rebels' TAC Cup squad next season.