Lin Jong has courage in spades, backing into packs and putting his head over the ball without hesitation, but the 20-year-old believes his recent stint on the sidelines has made him even tougher.
Fracturing his leg in round two of the VFL, Jong found himself in the rehabilitation group for the first time – despite his brave on field antics, he had never faced a serious injury before.
While the experience was at times gruelling and lonely, Jong believes he is more resilient because of it.
“It’s good for me mentally. It makes me a stronger person after it,” Jong said.
“When this happened I could have just mopped around and got really upset about it but I guess you just have to appreciate what kind of injury it was.
“You look at other guys like Higgo (Shaun Higgins) who is out for the season and you have to just be happy you aren’t out for the season.
“It makes you appreciate things more.”
Whether it is an increased empathy for his fellow injured teammates or a greater appreciation of the opportunities in front of him, the 20-year-old is taking a number of positives out of the experience.
“I guess I can understand better what some guys go through when they go through injuries and I really do think that I appreciate everything a little bit more,” he said.
“Even walking, you really do take that for granted and I hated crutches so much.
“You take it all for granted and now in training I am going to appreciate that, especially when other guys might be in rehab – I’m a better person for it.”
In the hospital it was the thought of Dale Morris that kept him grounded and helped him gain perspective, knowing that whatever the prognosis, it could be worse.
A phone call with Western Bulldogs doctor Jake Landsberger confirmed he would be restricted to the sidelines for at least eight weeks – but Jong continued to remain positive.
“It’s almost a blessing in disguise because I needed to a bit more upper body work and I’ve done that now, as for leg strength I’ve lost a bit but it wasn’t too bad to begin with,” he said.
Finding company in Ayce Cordy who is also rehabilitating a leg injury, Jong said the support from him and others at the Club had been uplifting as he progresses towards his playing return.
In particular the support from mentor Matthew Boyd and defender Easton Wood helped Jong through his first serious injury.
“Rehab is pretty lonely sometimes and lucky I had Ayce with me for the past few weeks – well not lucky for him, but lucky for me,” he joked.
“Woody has been really good and he is always asking how I am going and everyone at the Club is supportive and seeing if I am doing alright mentally – and I am doing pretty fine, I’d like to think.”
Despite the extended period on the sidelines, Jong said he will still play with the grit and determination many have come to expect.
Like fellow teammate Dale Morris, not even a leg fracture is enough to scare him from playing the brand of football he enjoys most.
“Once I get back into it I will play like I normally do - maybe I will be a bit conscious of it, but I have done it plenty of times and it hasn’t happened,” he said.
“I can’t wait but I don’t want to get too excited. I still have to heal my leg first.”
