Tomorrow, the Swannies will play in our first Manila International Cup.

Tomorrow, 25 May, 2013, eight teams from around Asia will converge on Manila, Philippines, to fight it out for the Manila International Cup.

Below is a press release from the Tournament organisers, the Philippine Eagles, that was published yesterday on the East Asia Australian Football League’s (EAAFL) website.

Over 160 players from Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Hong Kong, as well as three local teams, will converge on the Manila Polo Club grounds to compete in a lightening premiership style Aussie Rules tournament.

To take out the ultimate prize, the winning team will have to play six 24-minute games in the scorching 35-degree heat.

The tournament has caught the attention of many of the AFL’s greats with former champions Ron Barrassi, Doug Wade, Dale Weightman, Jim Jess, Simon Beasley, Barry Davis, Murray Weideman and Stephen Carey in attendance.

The touring teams will be mainly made up of expatriate Australians, however the host team, the Philippine Eagles, will very much be bringing a local flavour.  Former TAC Cup Northern Knights players, and Filipino citizens, Evan Spargo and Winner Santos will be crucial to the Eagles’

Dave O’Shea, who is looking forward to the Manila Cup, AFL Masters Match – and then a transfer to the Jakarta Bintangs – previews this weekend’s Mega Blockbuster: the Manila Cup.

Dave O’Shea loves the footy. If he’s not playing, he’s training. If he’s not training, he’s writing about when he will be playing.

In another stunning piece of brilliant journalism, Dave reports below on this weekend’s Mega Manila Cup.

The Vietnam Swans will embark on the Manila Cup for the first time in the year of their 10th anniversary.

The Manila Cup is one of the most prized tournaments in all of Asia and the Swans will be represented with one of their strongest teams on paper since the Indochina Cup last year. The Swans have not won a match in 2013. With losses to Cambodia, Malaysia and Jakarta, the Swans find themselves on the bottom of the EAAFL ladder. They will be hoping to win their first match of the year in Manila.

The Draw was released earlier in the week and the Swans will play Asian heavyweights, the Hong Kong Dragons, in their first game. The Swans will be looking for revenge after the Dragons knocked the Swans out of last year’s semi final of the Asian Championships in Thailand. The Dragons went on to win the tournament and the Swans were relegated to 4^th due to their semi final loss to the strong Hong Kong outfit.

The Swans have also drawn a Barbarians team which will be represented by players from a number of different countries throughout Asia. The other team in the pool is a Philippines team called Alabang. An unknown team but, playing at their home ground in the flip, should be quite strong.

The Swans will need to finish first or second in their pool to make the semi finals. The other pool looks stronger on paper. It also consists of four teams: Malaysia, Philippines, Laos and Singapore.

This will be the last tour for a number of gun Swannies. Captain Dukesy; Ryan ‘Revo’ Evans; Brian ‘Dirty’ Farrell; Nick ‘Moggy’ Moger and Dave ‘great bloke’ O’Shea (Ed’s note: written and authorised by Dave O’Shea) all will be bidding farewell soon after this event. All five of these guys have been absolutely awesome for the Swans, both on and off the field. Some of their accolades and achievements are below.

Dukesy is a 3 time Swannies’ best and fairest winner, 3 time All Asia representative, 3 times winning captain at the Indochina Cup, Best player at the Indochina Cup 2011.

Revo was BOG in last year’s ANZAC Friendship Match against the China Reds. He was also a member of the last two winning Indochina Cup teams. Also responsible for the writing of the Swannies Team Song which we will be hoping to sing aloud in Manila.

Irish and Gaelic convert, Dirty Brian was awarded the Swannies’ Most Improved Player in 2012. He was also a member of the 2012 winning Indochina Cup team. Dirty Brian has now established himself as one of the Swannies most valuable players for his ferocious attack on the ball and hard tackling.

Moggy was a member of the 2011-12 winning Indochina Cup team. He also played in this year’s ANZAC Friendship Match. He can always be relied upon to kick goals. Off the field he looks after ‘The Horn’ when ‘The Horn’ gets too drunk to look after himself.

Dave O’Shea has been part of the 2011-12 winning Indochina Cup Team. He was also a member of the previous two ANZAC Friendship clashes. He is mega pumped for Manila. Don’t worry about that!!!

All five of these legends will be missed hugely by the club. In saying that, there are a number of superstar youngsters coming through. Both Joshes will be looking for big tournaments. These guys are fit and are the future of the Swans.

Speaking of the future, Billy Crang was announced as the future captain last week. He will be pumped to show the fans and younger players just how valuable he is for the Swans.

The Swannies will unleash superstar brothers Sean and Nathan Milner. These brothers make AFL brothers the Shaws look talentless, the McVeighs unskillful and the Selwoods soft.

Some of the old stalwarts of the club in Phil G, Travy and Powelly have signed up and are all super excited for this event. They will no doubt be putting in every effort to send their mates out as winners.

As well as youngsters, veterans, future captains, brothers and departees the Swannies will also welcome back a couple of Club legends in Matty Nat and Timmay! These boys can play and will be looking to show the Swannies fans just what they have been missing.

And we also have a super new recruit in Trent Davies. He flys into Saigon today from Adelaide for a stint in Vietnam. Tomorrow he flys out with the team for the Manila Cup. Welcome to the Swannies, Trenter!!

Coach Andy has been working the boys harder than ever at training the last few months. He told reporters recently that the players are fitter than ever and this should come in handy with the smaller numbers and big ground in Manila. He went on to say that our game plan will be to run, run and run some more…

This is a tournament that the Swans players are absolutely pumped for. This one’s not just for the departing members, this is for the whole Swans’ community.

CARN THE SWANNIES!!!!

Hot off the Press: Legendary Vietnam umpire ‘Rocket’ has just signed up for the tour. He will be wearing the green vest and come on late in matches as a Super Sub. This guy can do it all!!!!

Tourers: Luke “Dukesy” Creamer, Andy Glendinning, Dave O’Shea, Bill Crang, Ryan “Revo” Evans, Kyle Hackenberg, Paul “Mr Powell” Koch, Sean Milner, Nathan Milner, Phil Ghasseb, Tra Vy Fallon,  Josh Lee, Josh “Newer” Daly, Brian Farrell, Nick “Moggy” Moger, Matty Natalotto and Trent Davies.

Click on “8am to 9am AEST” (circled above) and listen to Peter, a Vietnam Veteran, talk about his return to Vietnam this year for the ANZAC Dawn Service at Long Tan and the ANZAC Friendship Match.

Every Sunday morning back in Australia, ABC Radio has the very popular program, Australia All Over, which is hosted by “Macca”.

Last Sunday, 19 May, Peter, a Vietnam Veteran, called Macca from Sapa, north of Hanoi. Peter is currently travelling in Vietnam with Stan and Sinh Middleton in a tour group of 33.

Pete, mentioned that it was the first time back in Vietnam for most of the group, including his wife who he brought here “to show her where we were”.

Peter described the ANZAC Dawn Service at Long Tan in the rubber plantation, “watching the sun come up” as a “very emotional experience”.

Macca asked if the trip was a healing process to which Peter replied, “I think it is”. Naturally, “it’s all changed in 45 years”.

Then Peter noted that:

“It’s amazing how many Australians are working here in Vietnam. There was a game of Aussie Rules played here the Saturday after ANZAC Day. It was played at Vung Tau. That was between Australians living in Vietnam (Vietnam Swans) and Australians living in Indonesia (Jakarta Bintangs)… and you had 4-500 Australians and Vietnamese watching around this pretty rugged sort of an oval eating meat pies and hot dogs.

“Then that night we had a dinner with all these people. All just in together.”

“Great stuff.”

Listen to the original audio track

To listen to the original audio track, click onto the Australia All Over website. On the homepage, find “Listen to last week’s show”. Then click on “8am to 9am AEST”.

Peter starts talking at 8.48am.

Please note that the audio link will only remain valid until 26 May, 2013.

Stan Middleton (right), keynote speaker and board member of Water Safety Vietnam with the Adam Goodes-signed footy purchased by Jakarta’s Jon Baker for USD500.

The Vietnam Swans’ National Treasurer, Rowan Luke reports that a total of USD2,550 was directly raised for charity on the ANZAC Friendship Weekend. Rowan’s report is below.

I am pleased to report that the ANZAC Friendship Weekend directly raised USD2,550 for charity.

Funds payable to charity from gate takings and raffle ticket sales for the ANZAC Friendship Match, less ground expenses (eg licence fees, sound systems, watering systems, ride on mowers etc) was VND20.7m (approx USD1,000).

Further, an additional $1,550 was raised from the following items at auction:

• West Coast Eagles jumper signed by 2013 team – $510
• 2012 AFL FInals Series footy signed by Adam Goodes – $500
• Brisbane Lions “home” jumper signed by Michael Voss (coach) and Jonathon Brown (Captain) – $390
• Two nights’ accommodation at the Novotel Nha Trang – $150

With the exception of the Adam Goodes footy, the proceeds will be split evenly between Swim Vietnam and the Vung Tau Orphanage (Centre for Social Protection of Children) and disbursed shortly. Proceeds from the Adam Goodes footy, which was donated by Water Safety Vietnam (WSV), have already been paid to WSV.

The Swans wish to thank all of those people who made generous contributions to the gate takings and raffle ticket sales, along with those who devoted their time to assist in raising the funds.

Additionally, the Club would also like to acknowledge and thank those who separately made donations directly to these charities (including Lagler Australia) and to those who donated items for auction.

Buy one of these exclusive jumpers – and help a charity!

The Vietnam Swans still have four more amazing items of memorabilia available for purchase. We want to turn these items into cash. Swim Vietnam and the Vung Tau Orphanage can do lots more with cash compared with items sitting in storage. Place a bid and help change a life.

• GWS jumper signed by the 2013 team (current bid: $200)
• Brisbane Lions “away” jumper signed by Voss and Brown (current bid: $150)
• Yellow Sherrin footy signed by the West Coast footy team (current bid: $150)
• Penrith Panthers jumper signed by team (current bid: $200)

Email the Swannies’ National President with your bid now – before we place the items on eBay!

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.”