WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong will stay with the premiers after signing a two-year deal.
Jong, 23, was caught touring Collingwood through the middle of the season and Gold Coast had shown interest in picking him up but he has opted to stay with the Dogs.
He played 16 games in the senior team this season but was in tears after he broke his collarbone in the elimination final against West Coast. He returned 17 days later for Footscray's VFL premiership and was awarded the medal for best afield but missed out on selection in the Grand Final win versus the Sydney Swans.
He told the club's website that the people around him at the Western Bulldogs were a motivating factor to stay.
"There are a number of factors I considered before signing and in the end it was quite obvious that the things I was looking for were right in front of me," Jong said.
"I have the best chance of improving my football here, but also to play with this group of players, and under this group of coaches, is everything I could ask for.
"I’m just so proud to be a Western Bulldogs player and look forward to playing a part in its growth into the future."
List manager Jason McCartney said Jong was a great person to have at the Dogs.
"Jongy has shown improvement year on year since being drafted in 2011 as a rookie, but in particular his second half to this year was outstanding," McCartney said.
“He is everything we look for in a player in terms of his character and work ethic, and for Lin to sign for a further two years is just a great result for the club."
Jong's manager Nick Gieschen, of TLA, told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Friday that the midfielder told him on Thursday afternoon to finalise the deal with the premiers.
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"It was probably only one or two (clubs that Gieschen spoke to). I didn't want to cast the net too wide because as I said before, he was never fully sold on leaving," Gieschen said.
"It was a decision based around opportunity. My gut feel was if the Bulldogs could provide him with that opportunity then he was always more than happy to stay.
"The fact that he ended up playing the majority of the second half of the year obviously gave him the belief that he could be a long term player at the club."