Lin Jong (Chinese: 楊昇; pinyin: Yáng Shēng;[4] born 4 June 1993) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the club in the 2012 Rookie Draft, with pick 9. He was the first Australian of East Timorese and Taiwanese descent to play in the AFL.[5]
| Lin Jong | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Lin playing for the Western Bulldogs in April 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Lin Jong | ||
| Date of birth | 4 June 1993[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia[2][3] | ||
| Original team(s) | Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup) | ||
| Draft | No. 9, 2012 Rookie Draft | ||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2012–2021 | Western Bulldogs | 65 (33) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 6, 2021. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Early years
editLin's father, Vitor, an East Timorese of Chinese background, fled his country in 1978 at the age of 18 due to the civil war.[6][7] He worked and studied in Japan, Macau, Hong Kong, and finally Taiwan, where he met his wife Faye.[6][7] After marrying, they immigrated to Australia in 1985.[citation needed]
Jong was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 4 June 1993. He attended school at Brentwood Secondary College and played with the Glen Waverley Rovers JFC.[8]
AFL career
editJong made his debut in Round 20, 2012, against Richmond at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[3]
In 2014, Jong was promoted to the senior list and also signed to a new contract, tying him to the club until the end of 2016.
In 2016, Jong cracked his collarbone in the Western Bulldogs' elimination final victory over West Coast. Despite this injury, Jong earned a Norm Goss Memorial Medal seventeen days later by putting in a best-on-ground effort for his club's reserves team in its victory over the Casey Scorpions in the 2016 VFL Grand Final. In a successful ploy to avoid contact with his injury, Jong took inspiration from Footscray legend Charlie Sutton by taping the opposite shoulder.[9]
On 7 October 2016, after being linked with Collingwood and Gold Coast in preceding weeks, Jong re-signed with the Western Bulldogs on a two-year deal.[10]
After suffering a serious hamstring injury in Round 6 of the 2021 AFL Season, Jong announced his retirement from the AFL on 4 August 2021.[11]
Post-AFL career
editAt least as early as 2016, Jong had expressed interest in becoming a primary school teacher.[12] In 2017, he had commenced studying to become a primary school teacher, and he had commenced his teaching placement in 2021.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Afl coach - Player Profile". Western Bulldogs. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ "Football Record - AFL Multicultural Round, 7-9 Aug 2015". Museums Victoria. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ a b Pierik, Jon (12 August 2012). "Jong buoyed by Boyd". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ "华人融入主流社会新思路 澳式足球抄近道 (New ways for Chinese people to integrate into mainstream society - Australian rules football) (Chinese)". au123.com.
- ^ Hustwaite, Megan (20 August 2012). "Young Bulldog recruit Lin Jong going places". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- ^ a b Baldwin, Adam (5 February 2014). "Tea with the Jongs". AFL Players. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ a b Connolly, Rohan (1 May 2015). "Lin Jong a Western Bulldog who belongs". The Age. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ "Lin Jong a Western Bulldog who belongs". May 2015.
- ^ Ollie, Sarah (26 September 2016). "Lin Jong has been endorsed by his teammates ahead of the Western Bulldogs grand final", Fox Sports. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- ^ Ryan, Peter; Navaratnam, Danny (7 October 2016). "Lin Jong back in: Bulldogs midfielder signs new deal with Dogs". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Jong calls time". westernbulldogs.com.au. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "On the record with: Lin Jong". westernbulldogs.com.au. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ McClure, Sam (27 July 2017). "Lin Jong spreading the word of multiculturalism". The Age. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
External links
edit
- Lin Jong's playing statistics from AFL Tables