Country of Origin: Vietnam
Recruited from: Aberfeldie (VIC)/Calder U18
Jayden Nguyen made history in 2025 as the first player of Vietnamese descent to play AFL. The Essendon defender grew up in a Vietnamese family and has embraced the opportunity to inspire greater representation of Asian Australians in Australian football. A product of Essendon’s James Hird Academy, Nguyen’s journey from junior football to the AFL has given him a unique connection to both his heritage and the game he grew up loving.
Read more:
ABC - Jayden Nguyen may be a rookie but the AFL's first Vietnamese player has already made his mark
ABC - AFL's cultural heritage series aims to take sport to new fans across Australia and the world
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