LIN JONG is making a habit of creating firsts, and his latest one is unlikely to be matched.
The Western Bulldogs youngster - the first AFL player of East Timorese and Taiwanese descent - is surely the first debutant to receive a congratulatory letter from a Prime Minister.
Watch Lin Jong & Western Bulldogs President David Smorgon speaking to Eddie McGuire on FoxFooty's EMT on the media player above.
The special story of Jong has taken another stunning twist with the revelation his efforts have been officially recognised by East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
East Timor is the homeland of Jong's father.
As the 19-year-old walked into the visitors' changerooms at the MCG before his round 20 debut against Richmond, he was shocked to be handed a letter bearing the insignia of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
Addressed simply to "Mr Lin Jong, C/o Western Bulldogs Football Club, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia", the letter had been sent two days earlier via email and had been personally signed by Mr Gusmao.
"It was really humbling," Jong told Fox Footy's EMT on Wednesday night.
Mr Gusmao, on behalf of the East Timor government and its people, congratulated Jong on his selection, wished him all the best for his debut and expressed pride in his efforts.
"Your achievement is an impressive one that I am sure is the result of many years of focus, determination and commitment," he wrote.
"The Timorese are a resilient and courageous people and I am confident that you will take this spirit with you on to the football field …
"I hope you play well for yourself, your club and the Timorese people."
Bulldogs president David Smorgon told EMT: "It's a wonderful tribute to a wonderful young man. He might be in line for the ambassadorship one day."
Jong might be well placed for such a role, given the Bulldogs' No. 1 female ticketholder is Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
A group of about 50 of Jong's family and friends watched his first game at the MCG.
His parents missed the game because they were in New Zealand, but they attended the next week as guests of the Bulldogs at the President's Club function before the clash with the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium.
"You couldn’t meet two prouder parents," Smorgon said.
The Bulldogs president hopes Jong's rise will help the club make inroads into Asian communities in Melbourne's west.
"We've been trying for years with the Vietnamese community and they’re still taking time to adjust to the game, but if Lin's got 50 people to his first game it's a bloody good start," he said.
Although Jong appreciates the interest in his background - his Taiwanese mother and Timorese father met in Taiwan and came to Australia 26 years ago to start a family - his immediate focus is to distinguish himself on the field.
And he is making a good fist of a football journey he describes as "surreal".
He started playing competitive football just four years ago, just scraped onto the list of TAC Cup team Oakleigh Chargers last year, and just a handful of weeks ago was playing in Williamstown's reserves team.
The adaptable, hard-at-it midfielder has played three games, gathering 16, 17 and 24 touches against Richmond, Sydney and Geelong respectively.
"I try to be pretty courageous, but I've still got to improve a lot of things like my kicking and fitness," he said.
