Sam Grigg, in his first ever match as Coach of the Vietnam Swans, reports on last weekend’s victory to the Vietnam Swans over the Malysian Warriors at RMIT University, Saigon.

When word floated across the South China Sea that the hairiest man in Asian football, Malaysian Warrior Nicolas Vogels, wouldn’t be making the trip to face the Swannies in Saigon, my confidence in outclassing Scotty Stacey as the Vietnam Swans coach took a hammering akin to the Aussie dollar last week. The Malaysian boys weren’t going to be nearly as hung-over facing us match day as what they would’ve had Vogels been leading the charge the previous night!

The recent relaying of the RMIT turf provided less than favorable ground conditions for the Linfox-Loscam Cup. A good few inches of monsoon water lay on the surface – more than enough for Captain Gus to stay at home for fear of getting dirty.

And while it may have been a hindrance to some, it wasn’t to the former Whitefriars school captain Mr. Phil Fabbo Johns who showed that age is merely a number, that grey hair is cool on the football field, and that if you’re told by the coach to mark the football, then you bloody well mark the football. Ya hearin’ me?

Be it a hang-over resulting from his hospitable (as opposed to hospital) efforts in drinking up a storm with the Malaysian boys on Friday night, or a sign of bigger and better things to come when most thought his best footy was behind him, the national president turned Saturday’s game on its head. It was awwwwwwwesome. 

Individuals aside, it was a fantastic team effort that saw the Swans come out on top by 7 goals, or possibly 6, as the Malaysian fullback would have you forcefully believe. From the coach’s standpoint, who was he to argue with a goal umpire far better looking than himself?   

Nathan was in sensational form racking up possessions at will and was clearly best on ground. From the boundary line you could see the determination in his eyes and the mud on his face, though the mud turned out to be nothing more than a dirty beard he’d been growing since Singapore.

Greg was good. Muzza was better but only because he was wearing the coach’s boots. Louie had a purple patch and for 5 minutes tore the game apart. Monky was strong out of the middle. Danny showed the young fellas how to play in wet. Derrin stood tall in defense. Larry got his first touch in what was his 6^th game for the Bloods.  Big Joe got a kick but didn’t manage to kick it over the man on the mark. Shannon was more preoccupied with his girlfriend on the boundary line. Nick ‘tapped’ bottoms as only a true Xavier boy could. Jarrod didn’t win any friends. Rich preferred talking to the goal umpire (the other goal umpire that is). Paul, age will not weary them. Dave looked good in Malaysian colours. Damo was strong. Isaac went well for a Seppo. Johnny turned 27. Drew’s best moment was presenting the Linfox-Loscam Cup to himself as Captain. Scotty got dragged. Gus was a no-show but I think I’ve already mentioned that?

Special mention to Griz who not only put in a super effort on the field and was one of the Swans best, but also for his pains in travelling south of the DMZ as the sole representative of the Hanoi chapter.

Overall a sensational win by the Bloods to claim the Linfox-Loscam Cup. Many thanks to the Malaysian boys for coming across to play the Swannies in what was a hugely successful day both on and off the field. As to be expected, a great effort by the Swans hierarchy in organising the day’s proceedings.

Special mentions to Vietnam Swans’ stalwarts, Paul Koch and Dave Morton who offered to pull on jumpers for the Malaysian Warriors for the day. Also to Scott Stacey for umpiring in the first half. A particularly big thanks to the new sensation, Chris McNamara who played the pivotal role of Senior Field Umpire all day.

Shame we lost the boat race, but they owed us that much…

Coach Grigg (Wins 1, Losses 0)

Anyone with actual photos of the match is asked to email them to

Yesterday, on a water-logged RMIT University oval in Saigon, the Vietnam Swans recorded our first ever victory (in 4 matches) against the Malaysian Warriors to take the Linfox – Loscam Cup.

We’re still trying to find the Offcial Scorer, but the score was approximately 10 goals to the home side and 3 goals to the vistors.

More to follow.

Tomorrow at 2.15pm at RMIT University, Saigon, the ball will be bounced to kick off the 2nd - Cup between the Vietnam Swans and .

In August, we heard that the match between Vietnam and the HMAS ANZAC was “momentous” because it was an Australian warship playing a game of AFL in Vietnam.

Tomorrow will be historic because:

• It will be the first ever - Cup to be played in Vietnam
• Thanks to sponsorship, we will unveil for the very first time at RMIT some proper AFL goal posts (Scotty Stacey with the RMIT ground staff have lengthened the oval (!) to a respectable 120m (and 70m wide))
• It will be Sam Grigg’s last match for the Swannies as a resident of Vietnam – albeit as our coach due to a broken foot.

The Malaysians last toured Vietnam (Hanoi) back in 2006 and won in a good contest. In March of this year, we travelled to Malaysia and came back home licking our wounds. But tomorrow is a new day and there’s some quiet confidence in the Swans camp!

Special thanks to , Vietnam’s leading real estate search company, for designing the match day banner. Also, thanks to , 65 per cent owned by Nestle Water, for supplying the players with water on the day.

The Schedule

• 7.30pm tonight at Cafe Latin – Welcome drinks with the Malaysian Warriors
• 2.15pm tomorrow at RMIT Saigon – Ball is bounced to start the match
• 7.30pm tomorrow at Bar No. 5 – Dinner and drinks with both teams

With less than a week before the Linfox – Loscam Cup between Vietnam and Malaysia on 25 October 2008, the changes are coming thick and fast.

Our traditional umpire, Richard Beecher has declared himself unavailable to umpire citing a desire to play. Traditional Super Savvy Coach, Scotty Stacey has declared himeself unavailable to coach citing a desire to play.

Sam Grigg, whilst having a desire to play, cannot due to a broken foot. He didn’t break his foot after taking the screamer in the photo above, rather, a wayward motorcyclist found him on the footpath! Uncle Sam will be our coach and he needs all of us to perform at our best. If the Malaysian Worriers have done their homework, they will be worried. Sam’s already in winning form, having picked up the 4.5 Megalitre bottle of Jim Beam at the Vietnam Swans 2008 AFL Grand Final Party.

This will be Sam’s last match for Vietnam as a Vietnam-resident. He has received a well-earned promotion and will leave for Bangalore, India, in two weeks.

Unfortunately, Rhys the Mohawk, won’t receive his send-off at next week’s match. He had to return to Australia yesterday. Good luck with it all back in Oz, Rhys and keep flying the flag for the Swannies!

As always, the churn factor remains strong at the Vietnam Swans. But also as always, Go  you Swannies!

The Indochina Cup, between Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand is scheduled for 22 November in Phnom Penh.

Earlier in the week, a rumour circulated that our booking for the oval at Phnom Penh’s International School would be bumped for another event. Although our booking is 95 per cent safe, Eggo is currently seeking absolute confirmation because, as he says, “there is no alternative to this ground as nothing is big enough – that hasn’t been cleared of landmines at least”.

Steering clear of the landmines sounds like a good idea.

The Thailand Tigers’ President, Rhino, has offered Bangkok as an alternative venue if required.

But he adds, “Ideally, we would love to go to Phnom Penh and assist getting footy buzzing in Cambodia. Look what we (Vietnam and Thailand) did for Laos. Got so much buzz that they beat both of us in Singapore (at the 2008 Asian Champs)”.

Saigon President of the Vietnam Swans, Scott Stacey replied that “Vietnam’s Party-endorsed official stance is that there was no Singapore”.

The Indochina Cup is going to be b-i-g.

Last Friday, ex Swan, Nico the Frencho, recorded a comment on the Blog…

Hello, i’m Nico, the French guy playing with Swans from April to July. I hope you remember me.

Thanks to have made me discover football, I’m now playing football in Paris, and I had a few trainings with Peter (Ed’s note: Peter Bossink played with the Vietnam Swans in last year’s Asian Champs) (2 Swans playing in Paris. How strange!!!).

Tomorrow (11 October), I’ll play footy European Championship, and of course I’ll think about you (Ed’s note, England won the competition and France came 6th out of 12 teams. See ).

Thank you for all and see you when i come back in Hanoi…

Great to hear from you, Nico and great stuff that you have kicked on with the footy and Peter Pierre.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the Blog received an email from Benjamin Hamon, the President of the Australian Football Team of the Montpellier Fire Sharks in the south of France!

He wrote: I really love the jumper of your National Team, so I just want to know if it’s possible to buy one (or two).

No worries at all, Benjamin – but how did you find out about the Vietnam Swans and our jumper?

I know that a French guy have play with you. He was with me at the EU Cup last week, and he show me your jumper. That’s why I want one now. (So) I’m waiting your answer about the shipping cost to confirm if I would like to proceed.

Thanks for your emails Benjamin and we will advise on the cost of postage.

For anyone else interested in purchasing a Vietnam Swans jumper, they are USD65 plus postage. Contact for more information.

Aussie Rules, the Vietnam Swans and the French Connection… As Peter Pierre told the Swans Blog back on 5 July 2008, Eat a baguette if you love footy.