Vietnam Swans

Australian Rules Football In Vietnam!

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Club Email and Nha Trang

Posted by Vietnam Swans on March 26, 2008

Go large son. Go large!

Nha Trang Weekend

Are you coming to Nha Trang on 19 – 20 April?? Why wouldn’t ya?

 

There will be a cracking footy match as well as rugby. Confirm your attendance by contacting Symmo or the Club President.

(Yes, “Hanoi Hawks” has been mentioned on the poster for this state of origin match as the Hanoi Hawks preceded the Hanoi Swans. But for lovers of the Vietnam Swans, please note the red and white colouring on the poster).

Saigon Saints

For those of you who want to learn more about the history of the Saigon Saints footy club, tune into www.vietnamswans.com to read a posting by Pago on the 10th anniversary of the Sainters.

Footy Tipping

The footy tipping comp started last weekend. To read the summary of what happened, check out the post Round 1 analysis by Muzza the Tip Star at www.vietnamswans.com

Grand Final Thought

As the poster above says, “Go large” – but don’t go back home.

Posted in sport, Swans in the Community, Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

“Swans Tank”, says Liberatore

Posted by Vietnam Swans on March 23, 2008

Tony Liberatore covers himself in controversy again with a “Swans tank” claimFormer Carlton Assistant Coach, Tony Liberatore has accused the Vietnam Swans of “tanking” matches at the end of last season.

Speaking on the Footy Show last week, Liberatore cited the fact that the Vietnam Swans “lost their last four matches of the season” (sic) (Editor’s note: clearly, the fact that Libber’s brain is tanking would be less evident if his lips stopped flapping. The Swans won our second last match of the year against the Lao Elephants). 

In a wide ranging interview, Libber accuses Coach Stacey of standing over Swans player, Mattie Greenwood, “demonstrating how to feign a medial ligament injury”.

The latest Libber outburst follows his comments last month that Swans President, Phil Johns is “a divisive figure who should be sacked and that Swans’ Captain, Gus McEwin should also get his marching orders if he could not guide the club to the finals at the 2008 Asian Champs”.

The Swans have obviously “issued a statement emphatically denying the claims and said they would hold a press conference about the issue on a Friday in 2020″.

To read the full story, see Micky J’s article, Tanking claims not confined to the mainland.

Posted in Asian Champs, Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

Local Derby: Saigon Saints V Hanoi Hawks/Swans, Nha Trang

Posted by Vietnam Swans on March 14, 2008

The faded Vietnam Swans boat in Nha Trang Bay on an undisclosed dateFor those who haven’t caught up on the gos, the luckless Vietnam Swans went down to the Malaysian Warriors last weekend by just 100 dodgy points.

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger: so now we’re as strong as an ox and looking forward to a guaranteed win for half of us in the next local Derby:

Match: Saigon Saints Vs Hanoi Hawks/Swans

Date: Saturday 19 April 2008

Location: Nha Trang

Time: TBA 

The last couple of local derbies have both been played in Saigon. Nha Trang will be a brave new world. Also happening on the same weekend will be a rugby match between the Saigon Geckos and the Hanoi Dragons.

There is likely to be some support from the Australian Embassy to help celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam. Making it even more special is the fact that 2008 marks the 150th birthday for Aussie Rules (not in Vietnam but in Australia). As if that’s not enough, the Vietnam Swans will take advantage of the opportunity to farewell the latest; this time, Sensational Sam Grigg.

Cheap domestic airfares (and trains), no visas and $10 accommodation options should ensure that we have heaps of players for the Saigon Saints and Hanoi Hawks/Swans. To prove me correct, register your interest in coming to Nha Trang by email.

At the beginning, middle and end of the country, it’s all footy.

Posted in Asian Footy, Farewell, photography, Swans in the Community, Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

Swans play Malaysia tomorrow!

Posted by Vietnam Swans on March 7, 2008

Today the Vietnam Swans will converge on Malaysia in preparation for tomorrow’s big clash against the Malaysian Warriors at 3pm in Kuala Lumpur. We are coming from Hanoi, Saigon and Singapore. We will be playing for the Linfox – Loscom Cup.

Controversially, this footy match has been scheduled on the same weekend that Malaysia goes to the polls.

Coincidentally, it is 2 years and 2 days since the last time these two teams played each other. That was on 6 March 2006 at the UN International School in Hanoi. A year before that, we toured to Malaysia under the banner of the “Hanoi Swans”. That tour announced Vietnam’s entry onto the Asian Football Stage in the modern era. The driving force behind the KL tour was the Hanoi Flyer, Dave Kainey who will also be joining us in KL this weekend.

Footy tipping comp

The Vietnam Swans are running a footy tipping competition on line at www.footytips.com.au . Sign up today. You can be a financial member of the tipping comp for just $15 (out they go at these prices) or you can just play without the pay. If you have any specific queries, give Muzza a call at vietnamswanstipping@gmail.com 

Final thought

At the beginning, middle and end of the day, it’s all good.

STOP PRESS

In news just to hand, Malaysia has controversially announced that the starting time for tomorrow’s match has been delayed by one hour for unspecified reasons. The match will now commence at 4pm.

Posted in Asian Footy, Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

The Swans fly in Tiger Airways’ magazine

Posted by Vietnam Swans on March 4, 2008

The Swans make a Tiger TaleIn this month’s Tiger Airways’ in-flight magazine, Tiger Tales, there’s an article that examines all the big sports & persons across Tiger’s network. They include: the F1 Grand Prix, some big name drivers, exotic golf courses, Craig Parry (not as exotic), fishing destinations, Rex Hunt (also not so exotic) and…

Cleverly, the article saves the best ’til last. But, truth be known, what’s on the bottom should be on the top. It’s about Aussie Rules in Australia as well as in Asia. there’s a special mention to the Singapore Wombats, Malaysian Warriors, Thailand Tigers and the Vietnam Swans.

Tiger n SwansThe writer, Chris Canty of www.happiesthour.com fame (and former player and eternal friend of the Swans) has also mentioned next weekend’s big clash between the Vietnam Swans and Malaysian Warriors in Malaysia. As if that’s not big enough, Chris also has a quick Chat off the Couch with the exotic Swans President, Phil Fabbo Johns.

Check out the article at Tiger Airways In flight on the web or download the Tiger pdf version. See if you can work out why we aren’t at the top of the page.

Posted in Asian Footy, Unheard of | 2 Comments »

Extraordinary tale from Vung Tau

Posted by Vietnam Swans on February 29, 2008

The Swans’ Rabbit at VunersRemember the boys went to Vung Tau for a footy boot camp the other weekend?

While they were there, they happened to drop in on the dish lickers – the Saturday night dog races. As expected, there was a rabbit for the doggies to chase. But, unexpectedly, the rabbit was dressed in the colours of the Swans!

Further proof of the pervasive influence across Vietnam of the Vietnam Swans…

Posted in Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

National Vietnam Veterans’ Museum

Posted by Vietnam Swans on February 23, 2008

Maddie Johns presents Krish from the National Vietnam Veterans’ Museum her Grade 4 school projectThe National Vietnam Veterans’ Museum on Phillip Island, near Melbourne, “is the only museum of its kind in Australia that covers a specific period in Australia’s military history.

“The collection of around 6,000 artefacts exists to permanently record Australia’s longest commitment to any war, a period of 10 years that spanned from 1962.

“It presents the story of Australia’s military involvement at a time of deep division among the Australian population over conscription.”

Mighty Mad - Past and FutureNow, fast forward to January 2008. Maddie Johns (niece of current Swans President, Phil Johns – hence the Vietnam Swans hat) presented the museum with her Grade 4 project.

Her project does not make any reference to the war. It decribes life in Vietnam today. Maddie has stuck 20 Vietnamese flags into a foam board. Each flag presents a fact about Vietnam: population, currency, exports etc.

The juxtaposition of Maddie and her project in front of a photograph taken in time of war is stark. One represents the past. The other represents the future.

If you’re near Phillip Island, do drop into the National Vietnam Veteran’s Museum for a factual and sensitive account of the Vietnam War (referred to by the Vietnamese as “the American War”).

Posted in Swans in the Community, Unheard of, Vietnam | Leave a Comment »

Swans Footy Boot Camp in Vungers

Posted by Vietnam Swans on February 22, 2008

Boot CampLast weekend, the Saigon contingent of the Vietnam Swans went on a Footy Boot Camp down to Vung Tau.

Big Joe & Little Lek, Mighty Matty Johnsy, Muzzaaaaagh!, Captain G Very Angry Train, Drew Truckie and Fabulous Phil were all there. A special appearance by the Little Guy, Pacey Stacey at the Dog Races on the Saturday night was specially disappointing for the bookies.

The weekend was in preparation for the hit out against Malaysia on 8 March.

Speaking of the dogs, that’s where we trained: in the middle of the dog track for a couple of hours in the searing temperatures. Literally, half the team was sick (the night before). Fairly soft performance that.

The Swans in action down at Vungers

Posted in Training, Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

Swans hat in Antarctica!!

Posted by Vietnam Swans on February 18, 2008

Swans hat welcomed to Antarctica…The QBE Swans’ hat has been seen in Antarctica! That’s right. Rub your eyes again and have another look at the photo.

Don McNeil was cruising through HCMC at the end of last year and spent a fair amount of time in the backpacker’s area of Pham Ngu Lau. He also spent a fair amount of time buying chewing gum from the stream of sellers trolling the strip before passing the chewy on to the stream of expectant children walking past.

Don also threatened to play footy for the Swans but bought a couple of our hats instead. He then flicked one off to his friend Tom who was cruising down to Antarctica last November. Don asked Tom to take a photo of the hat being worn by a “pretty girl… but as you can see, he obviously struggled to find one down there so he did the next best thing”.

What a series of sensational photos (including below).

Tom reports that the boat is due next week “…and it’s getting cold”. Tom, we’re hearin’ ya.

We’ve had some great photos of the Swans’ hat but the one above would have to be the best so far. How could you possibly beat this photo? You better put on your Swans thinking caps and then send your photos into the Blog. 

Antarctica - new home for the Swans’ hat!

Posted in Unheard of | 1 Comment »

Swannies’ hats go sick in Sorrento

Posted by Vietnam Swans on February 18, 2008

The Sorrento Swans hat strikes againIn more “unheard of” news, another Swannies’ hat has been discovered in Sorrento.

Seems like there might be more Swans’ hats in Sorrento than there are Fairy Penguins at Phillip Island.

Posted in Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

Swans hat seen in Cambodia

Posted by Vietnam Swans on February 14, 2008

Swans’ hat seen in Cambodia!

Over the Tet Lunar New Year, the Swans hat was seen in Cambodia – on the beach in Sihanoukville and on the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Also seen in Cambodia were Danny Armstrong, Pacey Stacey, Muzza and Phil Johns. Amazing scenes.

Posted in Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

Bartel, a Big Rooster?

Posted by Vietnam Swans on February 13, 2008

Jimmy Bartel swears by the Big RoosterIn news just to hand, Rooster has again spammed the Swans Blog – this time with an “unheard of” claim that the bloke on the left is none other than the 2007 Brownlow Medalist, Jimmy Bartel in Finland (photo on the right with Jimmy in Cat Attack mode… thanks be to the Geelong Advertiser).

According to Rooster, Bartel recently toured Santa’s home country, met up with the Footy Finns and donned one of their jumpers. Rooster shamelessly adds that the jumpers were made by the Big Rooster. 

Posted in AFL, Unheard of | Leave a Comment »

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