Lin Jong’s Collingwood tour an example of brutal reality of modern football

LIN Jong’s meeting with Collingwood illustrates the brutal reality of football now, writes Jay Clark, but the Bulldogs midfielder is not Robinson Crusoe.

Lin Jong is out of contract at the end of the season. Picture: Michael Klein

THIS is the brutal reality of football now.

As much as we love old-fashioned loyalty and get angry when our heroes switch clubs, the game has changed in the past couple of years.

Player movement is becoming more aggressive. More frequent. And perhaps as Geelong showed last November as they topped up for another premiership tilt, even more important.

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The AFL and Western Bulldogs fans won’t like the story that midfielder Lin Jong checked out Collingwood’s facilities last week, as he weighs up what to do next season.

But he should not be ostracised or condemned. Jong is not Robinson Crusoe, here.

These sorts of in-season meetings with rival clubs happen a lot more than it is publicly let on. It has to. And we should accept it.

Lin Jong is a ballwinning midfielder with pace. Picture: Michael Klein

Simply, these are multi-million dollar decisions that can make or break careers and clubs.

Players deserve the right to have as much time and information as possible to make the call to swap clubs or not, rather than hurriedly process it all in the trade period, when the game’s stars and fringe players are otherwise unwinding on holiday.

Rather, the bye period is prime time for laying the foundation for market moves.

We doubt a quick look at the Holden Centre affected Jong’s decision-making out on the SCG last Saturday night. Indeed, he may stay at the kennel next season.

Should his teammates and coaches look at Jong the same way when they meet him in the Bulldogs’ locker room this morning? Of course they should.

The Dogs courted Tom Boyd in mid-2014, when agent Liam Pickering drove the key forward into the underground garage of president Peter Gordon’s home.

Waiting for him inside were key Dogs’ officials, selling the goalkicker the opportunity to play at Whitten Oval.

While obviously not to the same scale, Collingwood wanted to talk turkey with Jong, too, and show him around the place. It’s the modern trade game.

The Magpies are at a critical point in their list build, which has been challenged by an horrific injury run and poor form this season.

And Collingwood fans would hope Derek Hine and his list crew are doing everything they can to improve the squad to help make finals next season, and smart pick-ups like Jong can make all the difference.

The tallish ballwinner has power and pace, and can be dangerous bursting away from stoppages either in the midfield or forward line.

Jong is tough and kicks goals, but there is no guaranteed spot for him at the Dogs.

Clearly, the Pies are keen on him, and want to get the wheels turning on a potential deal, if there is going to be one.

Jong won’t have to decide anytime soon. But he is entitled to get all the information as early as possible to make the call. Even if that is in-season.