Yesterday, the Swans met with Miss Australia, Laura Dundovic. It was all good – just ask the bloke on the far left!

Given Laura looks so relaxed and comfortable in that photo, the Blog is tipping that if the Miss Universe schedule gets too hectic, we might just find her grabbing a few zzz’s on a motorbike. Vietnam-style!

Laura Dundovic is both Miss Australia and Miss Awwwwwwwwwesome.

This morning she met with the Vietnam Swans in Saigon at the New World Hotel. The Swans Blog is tipping you’re not interested in the words. Photos will appear on the Blog later today.

This was the first time any of the Swans had brushed with anyone from a beauty pageant. But the overwhelming word from the boys is that with Laura representing Australia, we’re a real chance to take out the Miss Universe Award next month in Nha Trang.

Willy from Hanoi has organised a footy meeting tonight to discuss the Club’s new org. structure in the north. This is his story:

It is with great delight that i am able to tell you the news. The Saigon boys might have Jen visiting (Ed’s note: Willy hasn’t heard the news that Jennifer Hawkins is a no show tomorrow – but current Miss Australia, Laura Dundovic will be present), but we have something better.
 
A get together. Tonight. It will be cozy. Romantic. By candle light. Just you and a heap of other boys. Talkin’ just one thing. Yep. And that one thing is the only thing worth talking about. Footy. I mean, can you imagine tryin’ to talk footy to Jenny Hawkins? Let me present this scenario as just one example (below is a heavily edited extract)…
 
“Jen, I was such an ugly kid – when I played in the sandbox, the cat kept covering me up. I even had a psychiatrist. You know the psychiatrist said I was crazy? I said I wanted a second opinion. He said, ”Okay, you’re ugly too.”

Meanwhile, ‘W’ walks over to your table. trouble. (‘W’ is the gorgeous waitress!! Bloody hell, boys. Sometimes…)

W:     Why you talk bugs? Our bugs best in town. I kill you.
You:  Lets forget the bugs and all have a beer. Ok?

Meanwhile, Jennifer is dead on sidewalk.

You:  I knew i should never have brought Jennifer to this neighbourhood. I mean this is a real tough neighborhood. Only the other day I put my hand in some cement and felt another hand.
 
So. That is it boys. Decided. Where would you rather be? Hav’n a beer with Jen in Saigon or talk’n footy with the boys? I know what I would choose every time.
 
‘Ok Willy. But what kinda footy things are we gonna talk about?’ I hear you say’n.
 
Vietnam my friend. Vietnam. Remember? The thing we will be talk’n about is important. It is about elections. It is about nominations. It is about ensuring this club – the Vietnam Swans club – has a bright and healthy future!! It is about voting for who you think should be Hanoi President, Hanoi Treasurer, Hanoi Coach, Hanoi…
 
So come along to Mick’s Backpackers tonight / Friday 5.00pm onwards. Ngo Huyen street (near the Cathedral). We’ll watch Fremantle Vs Sainters and then run the meeting to discuss responsibilities of positions, nominations for positions and then vote.

Go you Swannies!!

Willy (Ed’s note: Whatever the Swans are paying Willy, it ain’t enough.)

Dear Swans Players past and present, supporters and friends, 

As you all know, the Swans have grown to be part of the regular SE Asian football scene, regularly touring, receiving visiting teams as well as a variety of other off-field activities. Over the years the Swans have regularly held Grand Final events, been involved with charities and other events promoting footy and Australia but first and foremost have provided a social umbrella for a nucleus of Aussies who have lived, visited or somehow been involved with Vietnam. A hallmark of the Club has been that we have been able to attract people of all nationalities regardless of their sporting ability – or preferred sport! 

A few of us – including Scott Stacey who is continually and tirelessly working behind the scenes – have thought that as the club is now National and is growing in terms of numbers, it would be a good idea to work towards forming a more organized club to ensure growth and longevity as well as bringing about a more structured format to spread the workload and have more people actively involved and taking ownership in the events and matches we’re involved in.

The suggested format is to run with a National Committee and then two City Committees: Hanoi and HCMC.

NATIONAL COMMITTEE

The National Committee would be made up of two to three representatives at this point the two key cities, HCMC and Hanoi. The committee would decide the positions of the officers but in general the responsibilities of the National Committee would cover: 

• Organizing touring events (with the assistance of the respective Cities)
• Organizing National Events (that is events which combine both cities such as the Nha Trang match earlier this year)
• National Sponsorships (the Key sponsors for the country such as our current sponsors Linfox, Loscam, Blue Ink Asia, Bobby Brewers, Jim Beam and Big Rooster Footy etc)
•  National Budget (obviously there would be national costs for tours etc which would be funded National Sponsor, jumpers etc. Excess/shortfalls funds for National Budget would be distributed/collected from the cities) to be approved by both City committees
• Jumpers and kit
•  Membership (suggested that membership guidelines and records by National but funds generated to be under the Cities budget) 

CITY COMMITTEE 

Each city should have its own committee, made up how they feel best to take care of the following: 

• Training
• Local events
• Player welfare (apart from tour insurance which is a National thing)
• Local Treasury (funded by memberships, local sponsors for events, any local money raised)
• Hosting of International Touring teams (ie, whichever city hosts the touring team will be responsible for that tour)

I am sure there are a lot of comments and suggestions to add/correct this basic proposed structure and they are all welcome. However, these things can be drawn into loads of discussions so what we suggest is we simply start now and amend as we go. Remember, we have the Grand Final (local event), the tour to Lao and the Asian Champs (National event) coming up and we need to start organizing now.

SO, we suggest the approach is for the Cities to get organized first and to help, we will set a deadline. We believe each city should be able to inform of their respective committees by the end of this month and that each city nominate their three National Committee members by 15^th July 2008.

Interim Organizer of City Committee first meetings: 

• Hanoi: ???
• HCMC: Scott Stacey 

They will send you details of how to get together to organize the meetings very shortly.

The level of footy interest in both Hanoi and Saigon is growing and new faces are stepping up wanting to take responsibility. When we join forces to play as Vietnam, the vibe between the two cities is sensational. All the talk is about us being one combined Vietnam team. By combining Saigon and Hanoi we increase our pool of players so that we can have additional tours such as the trip to Lao next month. We now have a new signature footy jumper with the support of some new sponsors. Previous players and supporters often email before our matches to wish us luck. Our Blog is recording over 1,000 hits a week (in the next two days, we will record our 40,000^th hit). In summary, we have a great story to tell.

The structure above is about strengthening the Club to ensure that our success is not dependent upon just good luck.

Bring it On!

Phil Johns, President, Vietnam Swans

The breaking news is that Miss Laura Dundovic Australia will meet with the Vietnam Swans on Saturday 21 June 2008.

Unfortunately, former Miss Australia, Jennifer Hawkins, has a prior engagement and won’t be able to make it. The Swans have pledged to forward a stack of autographed footy cards to her.

Yesterday the Swans Blog cruised through the New World Hotel just checking things out. There’s a real buzz about that place and the Blog can report seeing Mercedes Benz cars parked out the front with “Official Car” written on the side. The Blog even saw Miss Norway standing in the lobby.

For sure, Miss Norway looked like she had some talent. However, when you read Miss Australia’s stats above, there’s no wonder the Swans hierarchy are keen to see her.

For more information and photos on Laura Dundovic, check Priscilla’s Model Management. 

Arguably, Miss Australia could be the most exciting development in Asian footy for many years.

Do you Miss Australia???

The answer is “Yes, sometimes”.

When the two Australian Glamours return to a land Down Under, people will ask, “Do you Miss Vietnam Swans?” The answer will be “Yes, always”. 

Current Miss Australia, Laura Dundovic and former Miss Australia/ Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins will meet with the Vietnam Swans in Saigon at a disclosed location (the New World Hotel) on an undisclosed date (sometime between Wednesday and Friday of this week). 

As soon as the Swans receive the word regarding time and date, an email will be sent to Swans members in Saigon. Especially for those of you who have our new footy jumper, try to make it to the photo shoot. If you can’t make it, try to give your new footy jumper to someone who can.

Laos Footy Trip

The Laos Footy Trip is on! We’re off to Vientiane. The date is likely to be Saturday 19 July.

Last year, half a dozen players from Laos joined the Vietnam Swans’ inaugural campaign at the Asian Championships. So excited, they went on to form their own footy club, the Laos Elephants. At the time, they told the Press that they were named the Elephants because they were “slow, fat and almost extinct”.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Since then, the Elephants have toured to Hanoi for the Tri Nations Cup against Vietnam and Thailand and have hosted a match against the Jakarta Bintangs.

The Lao boys were a key reason why the Swans were able to play in our first Asian Champs. It’s therefore very appropriate for us to make the tour to Laos in the Elephants’ first year of not being extinct. A tour to Laos will also be an ideal warm up for the 2008 Asian Champs which will be held in Singapore on 5 September.

Captain Gus is organizing the tour. Expect an email from him with all the details.

The Vietnam Swans Organisational Structure

Not only is he a Super Coach, Scotty Stacey is an Ideas Man with good ones. He’s noted that as our National Club grows, our very informal organizational structure becomes less able to support any future and sustained success on and off the field.

A separate email will be sent that proposes we set up a committee in both Hanoi and Saigon where each city is responsible for its own affairs. Then, there will be a national committee to look after national events and issues such as (security, inflation, immigration) the Asian Champs, insurance etc.

Sponsors 

Special thanks to Club Sponsors:

• Linfox
• Loscam
• Blue Ink Asia
• Bobby Brewers Coffee
• Jim Beam
• Big Rooster Footy

Honk yer horn if you love footy.

On 25 May, the Vietnam Swans in Saigon supported the Australian Consulate and Australian Education International with Experience Australia Day. The event was held at a school in Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 5.

We had a specially made Vietnam Swans handball board (thanks to the Swans sponsor, Blue Ink Asia for the design) which was a big hit with the students. They had a fabulous time trying to handball the footy through the hole in the middle of the board. We lined them up in groups of 4. Each had two handballs and the person with the highest score won a small prize.

To the side, we played a DVD of the 2005 AFL Grand Final between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles to add to the atmosphere.

The Vietnamese loved all of it – as they always do. The Vietnamese have such a great time playing with the footy. Without a doubt, the demonstration of Aussie Rules at these types of events increases the level of positive impact. It’s a winning combination.

Thanks to the Australian Consulate and Australia Education International for the invitation to the Vietnam Swans to support. Thanks to the Swans players who assisted on the day.

Last weekend, the Indochine Rugby Cup was played in Phnom Penh.

The Saigon Geckos, which include a number of players who moonlight in their spare time with the Vietnam Swans, played in the final against the Hanoi Dragons.

The Geckos, who were the reigning Indochine Champs, retained the title 7 points to 5 points.

The Saigon Geckos (the ladies’ half) were runners up in their touch rugby tournament.

All up, the touring party from Saigon had 32 players.

It’s not long now before the Asian Aussie Rules Champs kicks off in Singapore… It’s all good.

If you want to see what the young bloke to the side was seeing between sips, have a look at the Swans Photo Site

It has photos from the Vietnam Swans – Singapore Wombats match (taken by Blue Ink Asia).

The photos were kindly put on the flikr site by Adam Hurley who is the man who designed and maintains the Official Swans Blog.