Swannie, Shannon, cheers for a St Kilda goal!
Yesterday, Geelong was triumphant over a gallant St Kilda in a classic Grand Final contest at Melbourne’s MCG.
In Saigon, more than 200 attended the Official Vietnam Swans 2009 AFL Grand Final Party in what was a fantastic day. People came from everywhere dressed in their St Kilda and Geelong colours. The Swannies turned up in our own footy jumpers and shirts from the Asian Champs.
The day started at 9am at the Cage – with a scare. The power went out for half the building! No music to greet people as they arrived. Then the coupons for the players for the Norm Smith Medallist competition just disappeared. Aaaaargh!!!
After a 5 minute panic, the power came on and the coupons were found. All good again.
People kept filing in through the door and began hooking into breakfast and washing it down with a Foster’s frosty.
"Oh my Gawd!"
Derrin Limbrick, Saigon President, was the occasion’s MC and did an outstanding job interviewing tourists, tossing miniature footies into the crowd, getting people to go outside to play the Jim Beam handball competition. National President Phil Johns gave a quick review of the Swannies previous 12 months which then led into a pictorial review on the big screen set to the music of “Excalibur” which had been prepared by Bill Crang. Outstanding.
Then it was the telecast of the big match. Plenty of action on the field. Plenty of action at the Cage.
There were plenty of pies, supplied by Crumbs Bakery, that made you realise that this was a real footy event.
After the match the auctions were held. A signed Hawthorn jumper fetched $350. The Sydney Swans-signed footy picked up $520 and a further $500 was picked up for the Sydney Swans jumper. A Vietnam Housewares bundle of goods secured $150. And a packet of Tim Tams?? $80 – and that’s USD we’re talking! Meanwhile, a hat signed by Vietnam Swans player, Nick Shiell and worn by auctioneer, Matty Townsend sold for just over $100!! Staggering.
Then the Monster Raffle was drawn. And what a raffle. Details of winners coming soon.
Also, details of what happened in Hanoi, Hoi An and Hue coming soon.
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