Jayden Nguyen: The first player of Vietnamese descent in the history of AFL to debut for Essendon
Essendon will unearth a 14th debutant this season, with Jayden Nguyen to play his first Australian Football League (AFL) game against Sydney this Saturday.
With the announcement —Essendon now holds the AFL-era record (excluding expansion Clubs) for debutants in a single season, besting Fitzroy’s previous number of 13 back in 1991.
The first player of Vietnamese descent in the history of the game —Nguyen, was signed as a Category B Rookie from the Bombers’ Academy in last year’s draft.
The 177cm small defender has overcome a foot injury in the middle of the year to earn his selection —poised to tackle Swans livewire Tom Papley after an impressive run of form in the VFL, showcasing his combative nature, speed, attack and defensively-minded style for the club.
Nguyen has been with the Bombers since his early teens, thanks to the NGA program, and is still in shock that he’ll be living out his childhood dream.
Essendon has announced its 14th debutant of the season
Essendon have had to look to an increasing number of debutants this year, after a horror run of injuries. The Bombers currently have the competition’s longest injury list.
Nguyen makes his way into the side after impressing with 19 disposals against Footscray in the VFL on the weekend of his 19th birthday.
“I’m just trying to take it all in. I’d just woken up from a nap, and I’m like, ‘Scotty’s calling me? What’s up there?’,” Nguyen said.
“He told me to keep my plans for this weekend free because they were about to get a fair bit better. It was the last thing I was expecting to hear. I’m still in a bit of shock.
“I told the family as soon as I ran out of the room, and my dad just started running around the house screaming. It was so bloody good.
“It’s been a long, long journey working through our NGA program from being a 12-year-old to now. I spent so much time in the Club when I was younger, I idolised a lot of these players, and it was a dream for me one day to put on the sash.
“I just want to be a figure that Vietnamese and Asian children can look up to and hopefully show them that their dream is possible and that they can do it.
“For me to take a step in this direction, I feel like I’m pretty proud of myself, but hopefully I can make others proud that have helped me along the journey to where I am.
“To have the opportunity to represent such a great club, I’m just super happy and can’t wait to get started on my journey”.
I just want to be a figure that Vietnamese and Asian children can look up to and hopefully show them that their dream is possible and that they can do it”, Jayden Nguyen.
AFL dream has come true
When Jayden was 9 years old he arrived home one day and surprised his father, Duc Nguyen, with the news he wanted to play AFL footy with his mates.
Two weeks after the request —Duc found himself down at the Point Cook Sharks signing up Jayden to play Australian rules.
Duc knew little of the AFL —having arrived in Australia as a refugee from Vietnam with his dad in 1986.
They left their hometown near Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the South of Vietnam, to “looking for freedom”.
“[It’s a] very hard life as a refugee. I came here as a refugee because the Australian government tried to help a lot of refugee people. I would like to say thanks to the Australian government for helping Vietnamese people”, Duc said.
On Saturday afternoon at the SCG the proud father will stand and speak to his son’s Bomber teammates moments before Jayden becomes, the first player of Vietnamese descent to play in the AFL.
“I am very nervous because of Saturday coming. I have to do the talk and my English is not that good in front of a lot of people”, Duc said.
In Sydney —his family presents Jayden with his jumper for his debut at the club.
“His dream has come true”, Duc said.
“He slept with the ball. He put the ball on his side and slept with it”, his dad recalled with a big chuckle.
“When he was under-nine, he used to play footy in the house. He kicked the ball in the house and the ceiling would have the marks of the footy. He loved it.
“I watched him almost every game. When I was busy, the coach came and picked him up”.
Nguyen has played 9 matches for the Bombers in the state league competition, averaging 14.8 disposals, 3.4 tackles and 2 marks per game. (NQ)
