Vietnam Swans

The Manila Cup: 25 May, 2013.

The Manila Cup will be held in Manila on 25 May, 2013.

With the Jakarta Bintangs withdrawing from the Cup and being replaced by the Barbarians, the organisers have had to adjust the draw slightly.

The pools are still the same but the game times have been adjusted slightly.

The amended draw is below.

Time                              Field 1                                   Field 2

8.30am                         Malaysia Vs Singapore      Alabang Vs Barbarians
9.15am                         Philippines Vs Lao             Vietnam Vs Hong Kong
10.00am                        Singapore Vs Lao               Barbarians Vs Hong Kong
10.45am                        Malayisa Vs Philippines   Alabang Vs Vietnam
11.30am                         Malaysia Vs Lao                Vietnam Vs Barbarians
12.15pm                         Philippines Vs Singapore Hong Kong Vs Alabang

Break

1.45pm                          Semi Final 1: Pool A #1 Vs Pool B #2. Semi Final 2: Pool B #1 Vs Pool A #2
2.15pm                          PAFL Juniors Game
3.00pm                          Grand Final: Winner Semi Final #1 Vs Winner Semi Final #2
4.15pm                          Awards and presentations

Left, Bill Crang speaks to the players in Saigon after his appointment. Right, Bill is the only Swannie to have played in each of our five ANZAC matches. The time is right for him to step up as Captain (Saigon) and co Captain (National). Congratulations, Billy!

On the weekend, National Coach Andy Glendinning, speaking on behalf of the National Committee, confirmed Bill Crang’s appointment as Saigon Captain elect and National Co Captain elect (with Hanoi’s David Skowronski) after Dukesy returns to Australia in July.

This will be a a great and deserving challenge for Billy. It will be a challenge he shall relish.

It will be an exciting time for the Club as Bill grows into the position and then stamps his own authority and personality, taking us all to the next level.

Bill is amazingly well qualified to become the next Captain. He is, for example, the only Swannie to have played in all five ANZAC Matches (including the 2009 ANZAC Match in Thailand). In the last 12 months in particular, he has really taken on a leadership role at the Club with respect to on field performance and recruitment. Bill also played a key role in the strategic shift of the post ANZAC Friendship Match function, the McMillan Dinner, to the 5 star Imperial Hotel (which stands on the same site as the former Peter Badcoe Club)*.

Bill, as Captain-elect, shall travel to Manila next weekend for the Manila Cup with Dukesy at the helm. The following week, 1 June, shall be Dukesy’s last match when we take on the AFL Masters.

After that, let the reign of King Billy begin! Congratulations again, Bill!

* Footnote

Ron and Ailsa Vernon report from Australia that the “Swannies’ ANZAC Friendship Match and dinner got good coverage on Australia All Over on ABC radio yesterday morning”. We are now trying to get a tape of the program.

Johnny Mac receives his “You can leave the country, but not the Club. Honk!” trophy yesterday at RMIT. Right, Johnny is pictured with Saigon President, Nick Shiells.

Yesterday, John MacFarlane flew into Saigon and his last Swannies’ training session as a resident of Vietnam.

While here, he collected his “You can leave the country, but not the Club. Honk!” trophy after training at RMIT University.

Last year, John said that he wanted the Swannies to book a table for the Auscham Ball and that he would buy two tickets.

Later he apologised saying that he would be unable to attend due to work commitments in Australia – but that he would still purchase his two tickets!

For what?

“For the Club to award to any Swannie that it sees fit”, he replied.

Well why don’t you nominate the criteria and award the tickets yourself, Johnny?

“OK. I will award the tickets to the player who plays with the Heart of a Swannie.”

And a new tradition was born. John had just created an award to recognise the player who plays above himself. While that player may not be in the top three players for the fairest and best – he has still played the game of his life.

This year, we have formalised the Heart of a Swannie so that for each international game, there is a dedicated vote for that particular award. The 2013 Heart of a Swannie will be announced on the same night as the Best & Fairest at the end of the year.

John’s contributions on the field (how good was it to see John get his jumper in the 2013 ANZAC Friendship Match??) and off the field has been outstanding. He has actively encouraged the culture of the Club to be as inclusive as it is. John MacFarlane has been a big part of the glue that holds it all together.

All the Swannies thank John and we wish him well as he heads off to China to begin the next chapter of his career and life.

Go you Swannies!

Nathan “Nato” Milner gets the ball away in the ANZAC Legends and All Stars Match – and writes the match review.

Coach of the 2013 All Stars team, Nathan Milner, reviews the Legends Vs All Stars match that was played immediately prior to the ANZAC Friendship Match in Vung Tau.

It was the day we had been waiting for all year; the ANZAC footy match down in Vung Tau.

Mr Paul did a fantastic job organising the teams of the much anticipated All Stars vs Legends Match. We had people flying in from everywhere to take part, young and old, fast and slow, skinny and… everyone was up for what was a ripper game.

Hewie coaching the Legends and myself (Nato) coaching the All Stars, we were here for a fun, friendly game but, like always, we were going to play hard. With 15 players for each team on the field to start off with and only one on the bench, it was going to be a tough, tiring game.

First quarter started well for the first 2 minutes but as the ball left the umpire’s hand and lifted into the air, disaster struck with Ross (the only ruckman for the Legends) popping his shoulder out scraping him for the rest of the game. If that wasn’t enough National President Fabbo, also playing for the Legends, copped a hit in the eye in the first few minutes.

Each side fought hard learning each others ability and playing styles as well as more importantly each others names. Matt from Hanoi turned it on from the get go in the middle getting the ball straight down to Veteran players Adam and Kyle (effective even when injured (some might argue even more effective) in the forward line giving the All Stars a solid start.

Second quarter started with All Stars up by a few but the loss of one of our key players, Thien, who had a killer 1st quarter gave room for returned Super-star Quy to turn it up with the Legends improvised ruckman, Sean Milner. They worked together to get the ball out of the centre and into the Legends forward line. Quy not only playing center all day but pushing into the forward when his team needed him racked up a decent 4 goals for the day. One of the highlights of the match was forward woman Laura, (I dare say was the first woman to ever play the ANZAC in Vietnam) who racked up at least 10 possessions and with the encouragement and guidance of her teammates made a significant impact in the game.

But even with the Legends legendary forward line, the All Stars backmen with the likes of Mighty, fly-in Tim and Kane were too strong and time and time again stopped the full on attack of the Legends. Not to mention big British Dave getting in the drop spot for the ball every time. Club treasurer (aka goal sneak) Rowan kicked a pearler half way through the second quarter, showing that his weeks of watching us train had paid off.

The third quarter was where the All Stars really turned it on and lived up to their name. Getting the ball down to Adam, Ross and Kyle where they mopped up all quarter. It didn’t help the Legends that they had a rugby player in their backline who would sometimes throw the ball instead of hand balling it, but good on him for playing and having a go. Mr Paul got into space more times then one and was the perfect option coming out of the backline moving forward.

The fourth quarter was when I made the tactical move to activate our super sub Rocket (umpire up until the that quarter), putting him straight on the ball which he dominated the whole quarter. Kane took the moment of the match when he single handedly took on three Legend players, broke a tackle, did a 360° and kicked a 50m goal. Hewie stepped it up in the last quarter to spur his team with some great link ups to Tim who moved into the frontline for the last quarter. But it was too little too late and the All Stars got over the line.

It was a fantastic game all round and played in the ANZAC spirit. Special thanks to the umpires Danny Armstrong and Rocket for their great work and to everyone involved in making it a memorable day.

‘Til next year…

The nominations for the position of Saigon Captain: L to R – Billy Crang, Nathan Milner, Kev Hornblower and Phil Ghasseb.

Saigon has been well prepared for the July departure of our Skipper (who is also the national Skipper), Dukesy namin a successor many months ago. However, a spanner was thrown into the works last week when heir apparent, Dave O’Shea advised that he had accepted a fantastic job opportunity in Jakarta (congratulations, Dave!!).

Accordingly, Saigon decided to scramble now to find our next Captain to ensure that, when Dukesy leaves, we will still have a seamless transition.

Prior to Dukesy’s departure, the new heir apparent will have some ideal preparation to get “into the zone”.

With Dukesy, the new-new captain-elect will travel to Manila next weekend for the Manila Cup and then, the following weekend, there will be the match in Saigon against the AFL Masters. After that, it will be game on.

Nominations for the position of Saigon Captain close today.

Reflecting the depth of the Club, nominations have been received from four outstanding candidates: Phal Ghasseb, Bill Crang, Nathan Milner and Kev Hornblower.

As the new Captain shall also have a national role, expected to be co captain with Hanoi’s David Skowronski, the National Committee, in consultation with Dukesy, shall name the successful candidate for the position. The National Committee comprises the National President (Phil Johns), National Treasurer (Rowan Luke), National / Saigon Coach (Andy Glendinning), Saigon President (Nick Shiells), Hanoi President (Daniel Hopkins) and Hanoi Coach (David Skowronski).

In the next month, the Swannies face the hurdles of a departing captain, a departing captain elect and another 10 departures.

As we have done in the past, we will do again. The Swannies use hurdles to climb ever higher.

Go you Swannies!

Parents of junior high school students peer down into the Serepok 4 Hydropower reservoir where four students were found drowned Tuesday. Photo, Thanh Nhien News.

On Tuesday, Thanh Nhien News reported that four students had drowned in a central Vietnam reservoir. Below is the original report. Beneath that is a quick update on some of the magnificent work being done by Swim Vietnam and Water Safety Vietnam to help teach kids how to swim.

At least four junior high school students, among a group of more than 30, drowned Tuesday in a hydropower reservoir in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak .

Authorities recovered the bodies of the four sixth graders – three girls and a boy all aged 13 – and are still searching for others, said Tran Thuc, a spokesman for the local education department.

More than 30 students of Ho Tung Mau Secondary School in Buon Don District reportedly went swimming in the reservoir of the Serepok 4 Hydropower Plant at around 10 a.m.

They apparently were swept into the deep waters.

Five students, including the aforementioned fatalities, were found by local residents.

The rescued student is being treated at a local hospital.

Official figures show that more than 6,000 children drown every year in Vietnam, with the total increasing each year.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs said the number of child deaths due to drowning is 10 times higher in Vietnam than other developing countries.

While the country does have 3,260 kilometers of coastline, plus innumerable rivers, canals and ponds, experts have also blamed the government for failing to make learning to swim part of the standard school curriculum.

Swim Vietnam and Water Safety Vietnam: making water safe and fun.

Update from Swim Vietnam’s Jo Stewart

Last Sunday, Jo Stewart from Swim Vietnam wrote to the Vietnam Swans:

“We are currently out in the countryside in Dien Ban (near Hoi An) doing another AUSTSWIM teacher training (training swimming teachers who can then go and teach students) course.

“It is being presented in Vietnamese by our two senior teachers/AUSTSWIM presenters who are doing an awesome job.

“This now means we have trained over 120 swim teachers to date.  Many thanks to the Vietnam Swans for the huge part you have played in this.”

Update from Water Safety Vietnam’s Jan Williams

Last week, Jan Williams from Water Safety Vietnam, emailed the Swannies with this update from Ho Tram (near Vung Tau):

“Had meeting this morning with Chief Engineer at the resort where we are teaching. Thirty minutes later, we were at the Education Department’s Management Office in a meeting with the boss. Gained his full support and he is now on the path of about 40 teachers from three schools who can swim. They will start swimming lessons during the holidays. If successful, we will create an AUSTSWIM course for them – the ideal situation here.

“Meanwhile, a brand new pool is almost finished by a Ho Tram consortium of local Aussies. The end product will be local school teachers taking their classes for swimming lessons at a purpose built pool.”

Vietnam Television station, VTC10, has profiled Swannie, Richard Mighty Quinn who also works at the Australian Consulate General in HCMC. Click to watch video.

Richard “Mighty” Quinn has just put in a mighty performance off the field.

Vietnam Television’s VTC 10 program, Xin Chao Vietnam recently had its TV cameras follow him around HCMC for a “Week in the life of Richard Quinn”.

The TV program aired on television this week on 14 May, 2013.

The 25 minute profile of Mighty starts at the 6 minute mark with him having an early morning run in HCMC while wearing his Swannies’ training singlet.

From home to the Australian Consulate General where Richard works during the week, he gives us an insight into working and living in Vietnam.

Then there’s an informal dinner party at his house where he cooks up a storm with a number of his and wife Asami’s friends who come from several countries.

At 19.25minutes into the program (until 24.30mins), the cameras travel to RMIT University to join the Swannies for our weekly training session.

Richard explain that, “When I came to Vietnam, I wanted to play some sport, to join a team, to make friends and to have a good time.

“(Australian football) is a multicultural sport in Australia. We have many Vietnamese playing in Australia… as we have here (in Vietnam) as well. The Vietnamese (players) are great. They train really hard, they have a big heart and they put 100 per cent of their effort in every single time.”

Mr Quang, a student from RMIT, is then quoted as saying that “the foreigners who join the team are very sociable. There are no barriers among members of the team.”

Richard concludes by adding that, “because we are a team, it doesn’t matter if we are Australian, Vietnamese or American… We come here together to play as a team, as friends and we learn about each other’s cultures… Sport is the way that we develop friendships and we also develop an understanding of different cultures and countries. So, sport it’s very important.”

The TV program then finishes with Richard and his family spending a night at the water puppets with his mother.

Richard provides a wonderful insight into living and working in Vietnam amongst multiple cultures – and the role that the Vietnam Swans Australian Football Club has played in all of that.

Footnote: Richard’s assignment to Vietnam is about to conclude. Together with Asami and Alexander, they shall return to Australia shortly for their next chapter with the best wishes of all Swannies.

To see the full “Xin Chao Vietnam” program that featured Richard “Mighty” Quinn, click here.

Other articles in the media

• To see other articles that have been published about the Vietnam Swans, in both Vietnam and Australia, click here.

Caption on photo from Bairnsdale Advertiser: Better believe it. This is the start of an Aussie Rules match – in Vietnam!

Victoria’s “Bairnsdale Advertiser” has just reported on the 2013 ANZAC Friendship Match under the headline, “ANZAC footy friendly now a Vietnam tradition”.

The article is reproduced below.

With a number of former Gippsland residents taking to the ground for the annual ANZAC Friendship Match clash in Vung Tau (the Australian military administration base during the Vietnam War), we regrettably report that the Vietnam Swans were beaten by 10 points, going down to the Jakarta Bintangs in what the Swannies report as an “arm wrestle game”.

Played in mild conditions (for Vietnam) in late April, the annual challenge has been incorporated into the fledgling East Asian Australian Football League (EAAFL) at the old Lord Mayor’s Oval in Vung Tau.

Jakarta came from a seven point deficit at half time to take the honours. Missed shots for goals by the Swannies contributed to their defeat but the game was played in good spirits.

More than 220 people attended the annual ANZAC Kevin McMillan Dinner at the Imperial Hotel and, for many veterans in the Advertiser circulation zone, this hotel stands on the site of the former Peter Badcoe Club.

As previously reported, Craig Hewat, formerly of Bairnsdale, is a team player for the Swannies, as is Ryan Evans who won last year’s best on ground.

Coming from Maffra, Ryan again played well in 2013.

Captain of the Swannies, Luke Creamer, hails from Lakes Entrance and was awarded this year’s best player for the Swans.

It is his last ANZAC Friendship Match as he will soon be heading back to Australia. He has a special connection with Vietnam as his late father was a Vietnam vet.

Luke informs us that his family lived in Lakes in the late 1980s and early 1990, with his father Mark, working in the Commonwealth Bank.

Luke has been in Vietnam for four years with his wife Pia (formerly from Boolara) – the couple are both teachers and expecting their first child in July.

At the end of the international school year in mid June, they plan on returning to Victoria, job possibilities will govern just where.

“We’ve had an amazing time in Vietnam and loved every minute of living overseas and playing for the Swannies made it even more rewarding”, Luke said.

Other articles in the media

To see other articles that have been published about the Vietnam Swans, in both Vietnam and Australia, click here.

Video documentary of ANZAC Friendship Weekend

To see a video that reviews the ANZAC Friendship Weekend, including the McMillan Dinner, click here.

Saigon Auskick. Every Saturday morning from 10-11am at the ACG Campus in D2.

Since last month, each Saturday out at the ACG Campus (which is part of the Australian International School, a sponsor of the Swannies) in District 2, the Vietnam Swans run Saigon Auskick. The program is headed up by Swannies, Mark Stennett and Kev Hornblower.

Auskick runs from 10am to 11am and there’s a heap of Auskick packs that were very generously supplied by the AFL.

Last Saturday, there were 23 Auskickers, both boys and girls – and nearly as many parents. It’s a great atmosphere.

If you would like to send your boy or girl to Auskick, then please do. While the sessions are held at ACG, they are open to every child.

For further information, please email saigonauskick@gmail.com, visit the website, or call:

• Mark on 0128 609 3352
• Kevin on 0128 551 8681

Steve Drummond, the Swannies’ very own producer of documentaries, reviews the Vietnam Swans; 4th Annual ANZAC Friendship Match Day which includes highlights of the Legends Vs All Stars Match and the ANZAC Friendship Match between the Swans and the Jakarta Bintangs.

The 60 minute video includes footage of the actual games, excerpts of Vietnam Veteran, Ron Vernon addressing the players prior to the game, several addresses by the Swannies coach to his players, interviews with spectators and much more.

There is also footage of the McMillan Dinner and additional interviews.

Special thanks to Steve Drummond for preparing this video. He says that he will prepare a second, more tightly edited documentary after he returns to Australia.

Rikka collects his farewell trophy from National Coach, Andy Glendinning at the Spotted Cow on Friday night.

On Friday night at the Spotted Cow in Saigon, the Swannies farewelled Rick “Rikka” Boulton who will return to Australia.

Coach, Andy Glendinning, presented Rikka with the Swannies Farewell Trophy: You can leave the country, but not the Club. Honk!

Rikka was in Saigon at the time of our AFL Grand Final Party last year which is where he met up with us for the first time. He had to go back to Australia – but then returned in December when he signed up as a Swannie.

Rikka was also the ANZAC Boot Camp Sergeant in Vung Tau back in March.

The Swannies wish Rikka well – and we hope to see him in a Swannies jumper again at the Asian Champs later this year.

Three weeks of MSFs

The Swannies are well known for our MSFs – and the next month is no exception:

• Saturday 25 May: Manila Swannies Function (the Manila Cup)
• Saturday 1 June: Mega Swannies Function, AFL Masters, Saigon
• Saturday 8 June: Mega Swannies Farewell

In the biggest clean out ever of the Club’s playing stocks, we will be farewelling players in unprecedented numbers. The list includes:

• Dukesy
• Dave O’Shea (joining the Jakarta Bintangs)
• Revo
• Dirty Brian
• Moggy
• Michael from Binh Duong
• Mighty Richard Quinn
• Lurch
• Shag (joining the Jakarta Bintangs)
• Dave Robb
• Heater (joining the Jakarta Bintangs)

This mega farewell will be held on the Saturday evening after footy training. Venue to be advised.

Footnote: Johnny MacFarlane has slipped out of the country and has headed to China. However, he will be back next weekend for training in Saigon. It is there that we shall present him with his farewell trophy.

Dave O’Shea after last month’s ANZAC Friendship Match.

Dave O’Shea gives us the match preview for tomorrow’s scratchy in Saigon.

The Saigon Reds will take on the Saigon Whites tomorrow at Saigon’s finest sporting ground, RMIT.  Amazingly, this will be the third ground we have played at in three matches. The Reds have been dominant in the first two matches and lead the best of 5 series 2-0. This is a must win match for the whites.

Where: RMIT University, Quan 7
When: Saturday 11/5/2013 2:00pm
What to bring: New red or white playing top

Previous Match
The Reds had a comprehensive victory in the previous match which was played at the all new Estella ground in District 2. After the match Irish Brian was quoted through a translator as saying:

“Our performance today was not good enough. We have let down our fans, families and ourselves. We need to lift for the next game.”

Where it will be won

The Reds’ back line has been unstoppable in the previous matches. Nathan Milner, Billy and Dave Robb have been particularly impressive in working together and cutting off every ball that comes into their zone. The Whites will need to find a way to kick goals past the Reds’ wall.

The Whites’ midfield was disappointing last match. They won little ball and the little ball they won, they wasted. If they want to have any chance in this match, they simply need a better performance from their midfield. Perhaps the inclusion of Damo Ballantine will create some run and opportunity for them.

Lukey Miller has gone down with a hand injury. This has allowed him to spend more time fixing up his weak Supercoach side. This may be good for his fantasy team but it is not good for the Whites. However, in saying that, they may have the perfect replacement in RMIT student, Marty. They also have the option of playingSean Milner or Damo Judd in the ruck.

According to Saigon’s most trusted rumour file, the Horn is Dead!

The forward battle is once again one of significance. Shagger and GUS tried hard in the last match but just didn’t take enough marks and in turn didn’t kick enough goals. They need more support from the Horn who hasn’t turned up all year. There have been rumours floating around Saigon that the Horn is dead. These rumours will be answered on Saturday.

It’s an exciting time of the year for the Swans. As well as the scratchy this week, we also have the Manila Cup in a fortnight where we will send our strongest team since the Indochina Cup last year. It will be the last tour for a number of star Swannies such as Dukesy, Brian, Revo, J-Mac, Michael, Dave Robb, Dave O, Marty and Nick M. Let’s get behind this tournament and send these Swannie legends out as winners…

Special guest appearance tomorrow: Steven “Spielberg” Drummond will be at training tomorrow armed with his tripod, video camera and question sheet. He has a few Swannies lined up for interviews that will then be used in his documentary of the 2013 ANZAC Weekend.