Sandringham Zebra Kenny Ong thinks his parents have attended every football match he’s played in except one.
They followed his progress through the junior ranks with the Caulfield Bears and Ormond, and would make the trips to Ballarat, Bendigo and other country venues to see their son play for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup.
A trip to the Northern Territory to see Ong play for the Dragons was a little too far to travel, but their efforts are all the more remarkable given they initially had very little understanding of Australian football.
With a Malaysian father and Chinese mother who met in Australia as young adults, Ong – a VFL Multicultural Ambassador – found his love of football often confused his parents.
“I started when I was in U9s, so I think they probably just gradually worked out that you have to kick it between the big sticks,” the 21-year-old laughed.
“But sitting down with them after a game at the dinner table, sometimes I think they still don’t know what goes on.
“All Mum ever talks about is whether I missed or kicked a goal; I say ‘What about the other 15 touches I got, Mum?’”
Players of Asian heritage are rare in the upper levels of Australian football, but Ong has fond memories of taking to the field against a current high-profile player of Asian descent on the grand stage of Etihad Stadium.
In the 2011 TAC Cup Grand Final, Ong’s Sandringham Dragons defeated an Oakleigh Chargers team featuring current Western Bulldogs hard-nut Lin Jong.
Ong said his parents caught up with Jong’s father at the game, no doubt reflecting on the novelty of their sons’ situation.
Both players kicked a goal in Sandringham’s eight-point triumph, with Jong entering the AFL ranks shortly after, selected by the Bulldogs in that year’s Rookie Draft.
Ong spent another year with the Dragons before staying in his local area and signing with the Zebras for the 2013 season.
“I appreciate the fact that in the early days I was given a fair bit of opportunity,” Ong said.
“I’ve had a couple of stints playing in the twos – even this year as the team’s gotten better as well, which has been fine – but I think I’ve been really lucky to have spent the greater chunk of my time playing seniors and getting experience into myself.
“I think towards the back-end of last year, I started to feel like I really belonged.”
Ong, a 179cm forward with a nose for a goal, has now played 41 senior matches, many of them alongside members of the young core of AFL-listed Saints currently showing their improvement at the higher level.
Knowing he has held his own with them on the field has given the AFL Victoria VFL Academy member the confidence that one day he might be able to once again share the field with Lin Jong in the AFL.
Ong is under no illusion as to how difficult it is to make it there, but to achieve it, one of the things he’ll have to continue doing is kicking goals.
He has ample motivation too – if he misses them, he’ll need to answer to his mother.
* Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 07/08/2015 15:11