Lin Jong pursued by Gold Coast as Collingwood’s hopes of landing Bulldog fade

COLLINGWOOD’S hopes of landing one-time target Lin Jong are fading as a new club enters the race to land the Western Bulldogs’ midfielder.

Lin Jong celebrates a goal against Collingwood.

COLLINGWOOD’S hopes of landing Lin Jong are fading as Gold Coast circle the Western Bulldogs midfielder.

The Suns have emerged as the frontrunner to land the powerful ballwinner as they look to replace departing stars Dion Prestia and Jaeger O’Meara.

Jong has likely played his last game for the Bulldogs after injuring his collarbone in Friday night’s elimination final win over West Coast.

The midfielder was in tears on the bench after his night prematurely ended in the second term.

Richmond is poised to secure Prestia, while Hawthorn and Essendon are understood to be in the box seat for luckless O’Meara.

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The Suns tried to secure Jong in last year’s trade period and have considerable scope to broker a deal with the Dogs, with six picks inside the top-30 selections of November’s national draft.

Gold Coast is eyeing a large number of midfield prospects to help fill the gaps in its centre-line, including Port Adelaide game breaker Hamish Hartlett and Geelong’s George Horlin-Smith.

While the Dogs want to keep Jong, 23, he remains unsigned beyond this season after rebuffing their latest contract offer.

Lin Jong fires off a handball. Picture: Michael Klein

The 188cm tough nut has been mooted as a straight-swap for Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke in recent weeks but the Dogs are not keen on that deal.

Instead, Cloke’s move to the kennel could be sealed with a third-round selection.

Jong has played every senior game for the Dogs since he toured Collingwood’s facilities mid-season, and is highly-rated for his work-rate and hardness.

He has averaged 17 disposals and almost a goal a game from his 15 matches this season.

However, his spot in the Bulldogs’ senior team cannot be guaranteed next season when banned Bomber Stewart Crameri and hard nut midfielder Mitch Wallis return.

Jong is weighing up his options in a bid to enhance his job security after managing 39 senior games in five AFL seasons.

Collingwood could land Fremantle free agent Chris Mayne.

The Dogs have been decimated by injuries this season and have used 39 players on their list, allowing others such as Jong, to step up for coach Luke Beveridge.

But he would almost certainly clinch a starting midfield berth at Gold Coast next season as the battling franchise club looks to rebuild its engine room.

Collingwood is believed to be eyeing other targets, including Fremantle free agent Chris Mayne and Greater Western Sydney speedster Will Hoskin-Elliott.

Mayne suits Collingwood’s desire to go for a more mobile forward set-up next season.

The Magpies have the salary cap to accommodate some incoming senior players to bolster Nathan Buckley’s team but they are restricted in terms of draft picks.

Collingwood does not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft and will need to bank draft points to land father-son prospects Callum Brown and Josh Daicos.