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Lin Jong’s ‘shattering’ injury blow against the GWS Giants

Lin Jong was poised to make his long-awaited return on Friday evening, but the luckless Bulldogs star’s comeback was cruelly cut short.

Nic SavageNic Savage
@nic_savage1
2 min read
April 23, 2021 - 10:06PM
Lin Jong of the Bulldogs.
Lin Jong of the Bulldogs.

Lin Jong just can’t seem to catch a break.

The Western Bulldogs utility has endured a horror run of injuries throughout his AFL career, and the star’s nightmare unfortunately looks set to continue.

Having played just three games in the 2020 season, Jong was poised to make his long-awaited return from an ankle injury for the round six grudge match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.

But his comeback was cruelly cut short in the opening term.

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During the first quarter of Friday evening’s clash against the GWS Giants, Ling fell to the deck clutching his right hamstring following an inconspicuous collision with Callan Ward.

“This looks like a hamstring for Jong, holding the bottom of the right leg there,” commentator James Brayshaw said on Channel 7.

“That is not good. Not good at all for a guy that’s had to battle so hard over the last couple of years.”

Hawthorn great Luke Hodge continued: “That’s shattering … he’s had so many issues, especially with his shoulders. He finally gets back in and started the game really well, and then that happens.”

The 27-year-old was helped off the ground by two trainers and later replaced by medical substitute Lachlan McNeil.

Jong has missed 38 games since 2017 through injury, and that number could grow depending on the severity of Friday’s setback.

“Feel so sorry for Jong he has put in so much work. Pretty devastating to see him go

down,” Bulldogs teammate Jack Macrae told Channel 7.

The Advocate’s Alex Fair tweeted: “Lin Jong injured. Footy can be really cruel sometimes.”

The Age’s Daniel Cherney posted: “Poor Lin Jong. Cursed that bloke.”

Jong signed a one-year deal in November last year to extend his AFL career into a tenth season.

Minutes later, Giants midfielder Nick Haynes was also subbed out of the contest with a hamstring complaint, replaced by teammate Tanner Bruhn.

In a tightly-contest first half at the nation’s capital, the undefeated Bulldogs struggled to move the ball out of their back-half in cold conditions.

“The Giants are really well set-up defensively — and that’s what’s forcing some of these hack kicks out from the Western Bulldogs,” Swans legend Jude Bolton told Channel 7.

“They’re being a bit more methodical with their ball use, the Giants.”

But the Bulldogs prevailed to hold a narrow eight-point lead at halftime.

The margin was reduced to just three points at three-quarter-time, setting up a nailbiting climax.

Former Essendon star Matthew Lloyd told 3AW: “The game has turned into a bit of a dogfight. And that’s exactly what the Giants wanted going into the last quarter.”

However, the Bulldogs dominated the final term, kicking the final six goals to clinch a 15.14 (104) to 9.11 (65) victory.

Giants captain Toby Greene kicked a game-high four majors for the hosts, also contributing 19 disposals and six marks.

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Meanwhile, Macrae once again dominated the midfield with a game-high 40 disposals and 864 metres gained.

The Bulldogs have started season with six consecutive wins, a feat they haven’t achieved since 1946.

Luke Beveridge’s side will next face the Richmond Tigers at the MCG, while the Giants will travel to Adelaide to take on the Crows.

Originally published as Lin Jong’s ‘shattering’ injury blow against the GWS Giants

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/lin-jongs-shattering-injury-blow-against-the-gws-giants/news-story/54b33f27c3c30c4537f835917a2d05a7