Second 17 year-old to take up the No. 17 jersey, Au-Yong promises to deliver more than his predecessor Chai Yew-Hoe. Other than surpassing the then Chai in playmaking abilities, Au-Yong has a strongly attacking bent of mind. Only unfortunate injuries kept him out of the Singapore U-20 side.
Au-Yong eventually surpassed his peers one by one, and at the age of twenty-five was seen to be Grilled's best midfielder ever. This achievement led him to demand a salary higher than the club could afford, although it was admittedly market rate for someone of his calibre. It was thus that Au-Yong finally parted ways with the team after eight seasons of diligent service.
